HB 2214 -- Every Child Can Learn Act

Sponsor:  Nasheed

This bill establishes the Every Child Can Learn Act which
requires, beginning July 1, 2011, all St. Louis public schools to
use a response-to-intervention tiered approach to reading
instruction for students whom the school determines to be
struggling readers.  At a minimum, the reading levels of students
in kindergarten through tenth grade must be assessed at the
beginning and middle of the academic year, and those scoring
below district benchmarks will be provided with intensive,
systematic reading instruction.

Every St. Louis public school must annually, beginning January 1,
2011, prepare a personalized learning plan for any kindergarten
or first grade student whose most recent assessment result shows
that the student is reading at less than grade level with certain
exceptions specified in the bill.  The student's main teacher
must consult with the student's parents or guardian about the
plan and must have their consent to implement it.  If a student
is still performing at less than grade level at the end of the
first grade year, the school will refer the student for
assessment to determine if an individualized education program is
needed.  If it is determined that an individualized education
program is not needed, the personalized learning plan for the
student must remain in place until the student is reading at
grade level.

If the student is reading below grade level at the end of second
grade, he or she may progress to third grade only if additional
summer instruction demonstrates readiness, the school provides a
combined second/third grade classroom in which the student
continues with the same teacher, or the student's parents or
guardian signs a notice that they prefer to have their child
promoted although he or she is reading below grade level.  The
school district, however, will have the final determination on
the issue of retention.  The bill specifies the data that must be
made available in its annual report card on the numbers and
percentages by grade of promotions of students who have been
determined as reading below grade level but prohibits the
identification of an individual student.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm