Screen & Intervene: The Ready to Read Act of 2019

The Ready to Read Act 

​is a preventative measure to help students with reading difficulties get the support they need before they fall behind.

The Ready to Read Act of 2019, Students with Reading Difficulties, and The Code of Maryland Regulation, 13A.03.08, Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties, requires the following:

• Local education agencies (LEAs) must provide screening for all kindergarten students and identified first grade, second grade, and third grade students who may be at risk for reading difficulties;
• Students at risk for reading difficulty must be provided supplemental reading instruction, which is strictly defined and does not include 3 cueing or guessing, for identified students;
• progress monitoring;
• annual reporting requirements; and
• evaluation of the screening program

The Maryland State Department of Education collaborated with the Ready to Read Stakeholder group and Decoding Dyslexia Maryland to provide an implementation guide for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to use for guidance on the implementation of the Ready to Read Act and COMAR 13A.03.08. This guide will be updated every 4 years as required by law.
Download the Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties - Implementation Guide

School District Reading Screening Data

Download the Annual LEA Data Report Summary 2020-2021

Download the Annual LEA Data Report Summary 2021-2022

LEA Reporting Requirements

The Ready to Read Act of 2019 and COMAR 13A.03.08 requires LEAs to report annual data to the Maryland State Department of Education. This report includes information on each LEA’s: 

• websites for students at risk for reading difficulties; 
• screeners; 
• supplemental instruction;
• number of students screened;
• number of students identified as at risk for reading difficulties; 
• number of students who received supplemental reading instruction; and
• additional LEA information for students at risk of reading difficulties.

For More Information

Original and Final Bill Language
Code of Maryland Regulations, Final Language (this is what schools use to implement the law)
​Ready to Read Implementation Guide
Download the FAQ document
​Ready to Read Act Summary