Senate adopts S.204 to support young readers with evidence-based literacy measures

The Vermont Senate voted by voice to accept and adopt the committee of conference report on S.204, an act "relating to supporting Vermont's young readers through evidence based literacy instruction," and then suspended its rules to message the action to the House.

Senator from Chittenden Central, who introduced the motion to take up S.204, described the bill as "the literacy bill" and said it is "a continuation of act 28," thanking colleagues who worked on the conference committee. The senator said the bill incorporates the House's language for the findings and that several technical and policy changes were negotiated in conference.

According to the senator, the Agency of Education (AOE) suggested changes in section 2 that were accepted by the conference committee; the committee removed a requirement for collaboration with the council on literacy because "the AOE is gonna do this work themselves." The senator said the bill clarifies that screening provisions apply to "approved independent schools that accept public tuition," and that conference language includes "dyslexia characteristics" while removing a longer list of predictive screening measures originally proposed.

The debate in conference also touched on classroom practices. "We really wanted 3 queuing to be called out as a negative and harmful practice," the senator said, but the conference removed that language amid concern about the Legislature imposing itself on pedagogical methods. The bill instead focuses on statewide screening, a literacy plan developed by AOE with the state board and partner agencies, and targeted professional development. The senator said the professional development provisions were narrowed to kindergarten through grade 3 and that the bill does not mandate use of AOE learning modules.

S.204 also expands the literacy council to 19 members with 10 ex officio seats, the senator said, and specifically names the executive director of the Vermont Curriculum Council among ex officio members. The senator described an initial effort to include pre-K through grade 3 in the system but said the House objected because Vermont's pre-K system is a "mixed delivery system;" ultimately conference language limited the statutory duties to public pre-K and public schools.

After discussion, Mister President called a voice vote; the ayes carried and the Senate accepted and adopted the conference committee report. The Senate then voted to suspend its rules and message the action to the House forthwith.

The Senate recessed until 11 p.m. following completion of available business.