Senate orders third reading of sweeping literacy bill to screen K–3 students and mandate interventions

Senators on March 29 advanced S.204, a rewrite of Vermont’s reading-assessment law that would require universal screening of students in kindergarten through third grade, diagnostics for those identified with substantial reading deficits, caregiver notification within 30 days, and expanded teacher training and reporting requirements.

The bill’s reporter, the senator from Chittenden Central, said findings show “only about half of Vermont 3rd graders read proficiently,” and framed the measure as building on Act 28 and the state’s Literacy Advisory Council. The reporter described the bill’s core requirements: the Agency of Education (AOE) would publish an approved list of universal screeners; districts must screen K–3 students and develop intervention plans for students who demonstrate substantial reading deficiencies or dyslexic characteristics; and school leaders must notify caregivers within 30 days when a student is identified as having a reading deficiency.

Why it matters: sponsors and committee members argued that early identification and science-based instruction are essential to close achievement gaps and prevent downstream impacts on employment, health access and civic participation. The reporter told colleagues the measure rejects “three-cueing” approaches and directs emphasis on phonological awareness, decoding and evidence-based practices.

Floor action and committee changes: the Appropriations Committee asked that section 12 (a proposed conversion of a limited-service literacy position into a permanent, funded position) be deferred for budget comparison with other requests; the Appropriations Committee’s recommendation was accepted and the chamber amended the education committee report accordingly before ordering the bill for third reading.

Details and safeguards: supporters said diagnostic screens would not automatically equate every below-proficiency student with a substantial deficit, but acknowledged the bill could identify “thousands” of students needing interventions; the reporter said districts and the AOE must plan for follow-up supports and that implementation details will be subject to later rulemaking and budgeting.

Next steps: after a voice vote to order third reading, senators recessed briefly for a joint assembly; S.204 was ordered for third reading and will return to the floor for final passage consideration.

Quote: “Today, only about half of Vermont 3rd graders read proficiently,” the senator from Chittenden Central said on the floor, arguing the bill “calls out methods like three‑cueing … This method lacks strategies like sounding out the word and using phonetics.”

Note on voting: the transcript records voice votes on the amendment and ordering for third reading; specific roll-call tallies on the floor were not recorded in the transcript.