Contact Your State Delegates and Senators Today!
Support the Early Reading Screening and Intervention Bills
SB 548 sponsored by Chairman Joan Carter Conway: Hearing 2.21.18, 1:00pm, Senate Education Committee
HB 910 sponsored by Delegate Eric Luedtke and Chairman Anne Kaiser: Hearing 2.22.18, 1:00pm, House Way & Means
Click here to read the full text of the bill. The purpose of the legislation is to:
ACTION NEEDED:
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT
"Research-Based Reading Instruction & Certification for Teacher Candidates"
HB 493 sponsored by Delegate Dana Stein, Hearing on Feb. 22, Ways & Means Committee, House of Delegates
SB 638 sponsored by Senator Joan Carter Conway
Current co-sponsors: Delegate Kevin Hornberger, Delegate Teresa Reilly, Delegate April Rose, Delegate Haven Shoemaker, Delegate Jimmy Tarlau, Delegate Alonzo Washington, Delegate Mary Washington, and Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins
The legislation would require teacher candidates, including K-5 general educators and reading specialists, to successfully pass a written test of evidence-based reading instruction that is based on the science of reading.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
Barbara Donick with Right To Read - MD is spearheading community efforts to advocate for the passage of this important piece of legislation. Karleen Spitulnik and Jaclyn Paris represent Decoding Dyslexia Maryland as members of Right to Read and DDMD is also committed to passage of both bills dedicated to giving teachers the tools they need to help all students learn to read.
ACTION NEEDED:
Resources
Who is My Legislator?
General Assembly of MD Website
EMAIL TEMPLATE FOR SB 548 AND HB 910:
arly Reading Screening bills -- cut and paste to your email, add your personal information and send!
Dear [insert your State Delegate/Senator]
I am a constituent in your district and a member of Decoding Dyslexia Maryland. I would like your support for the Early Reading Screening and Instruction companion bills (HB 910 and SB 548) and the Teacher Preparation companion bills (HB 493 and SB 638).
INSERT PERSONAL STORY (after you download this letter -- see image to the left for instruction)
The Reading Screening bills, SB 548, sponsored by Senator Conway and the companion bill HB 910, sponsored by Chairman Anne Kaiser and Delegate Eric Luedtke, requires reading screening measures be implemented in pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and first grade to identify students at risk for reading difficulties and provide them with evidence based reading instruction so that they will attain grade level reading. These bills will be heard in committee on Feb. 21 in the Senate and Feb. 22 in the House.
The Teacher Preparation bills, HB 493, sponsored by Delegate Dana Stein and the Senate companion SB 638, sponsored by Senator Conway, requires teacher candidates to pass a foundational reading exam for certification as a K-6 teacher and requires that undergraduate coursework completed by teacher candidates include foundational, evidence based, structured literacy reading instruction. These bills will be heard in committee on Feb. 22 in the House and Feb. 28 in the Senate.
Understanding the science of reading and how to teach reading to all students is vital for early identification and remediation of at-risk students before they fail. Coupled with the measures suggested by the Kirwan Commission in HB 1415 to elevate the teaching profession and encourage new teachers to enter the profession, these bills benefit both students and teachers.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and I look forward to learning about your position on these bills. If you would like more information, please see the fact sheets posted online.
Sincerely,
Insert Name
Address
Address
Phone
Cc: [email protected]
Support the Early Reading Screening and Intervention Bills
SB 548 sponsored by Chairman Joan Carter Conway: Hearing 2.21.18, 1:00pm, Senate Education Committee
HB 910 sponsored by Delegate Eric Luedtke and Chairman Anne Kaiser: Hearing 2.22.18, 1:00pm, House Way & Means
Click here to read the full text of the bill. The purpose of the legislation is to:
- Provide a framework to screen all students in grades Pre-K – 1 to identify those who will likely struggle with reading.
- Provide specific interventions for at risk readers, monitor progress toward grade level reading, and increase the intervention as needed.
- Provide evidence based reading instruction in the early years when positive results are greater.
- Prevent the trauma of late reading failure and the necessity of special education.
ACTION NEEDED:
- Contact your Delegate and Senator and ask them to support SB 548 and HB 910 & send them an email asking for their support -- SEE BELOW FOR EMAIL TEMPLATE
- Contact Senators on the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee & ask them to VOTE YES
- Contact Delegates on the House Ways and Means Committee and ask them to VOTE YES
- Attend the Hearing on Feb. 21 at 1:00pm in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee & wear RED
- Explain how early identification of reading difficulties could have helped your family.
- Tweet your support for this bill, use hashtags: #earlyID #soallCanREAD #rightnow
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT
"Research-Based Reading Instruction & Certification for Teacher Candidates"
HB 493 sponsored by Delegate Dana Stein, Hearing on Feb. 22, Ways & Means Committee, House of Delegates
SB 638 sponsored by Senator Joan Carter Conway
Current co-sponsors: Delegate Kevin Hornberger, Delegate Teresa Reilly, Delegate April Rose, Delegate Haven Shoemaker, Delegate Jimmy Tarlau, Delegate Alonzo Washington, Delegate Mary Washington, and Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins
The legislation would require teacher candidates, including K-5 general educators and reading specialists, to successfully pass a written test of evidence-based reading instruction that is based on the science of reading.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
Barbara Donick with Right To Read - MD is spearheading community efforts to advocate for the passage of this important piece of legislation. Karleen Spitulnik and Jaclyn Paris represent Decoding Dyslexia Maryland as members of Right to Read and DDMD is also committed to passage of both bills dedicated to giving teachers the tools they need to help all students learn to read.
ACTION NEEDED:
- Contact your Delegate and Senator and ask them to support SB 638 and HB 493; see template email below;
- Attend the hearing in the House Ways & Means Committee scheduled for 2.2.22.18 at 1:00pm;
- Explain to elected officials how teachers who are prepared to teach foundational reading can help prevent reading difficulties and are critical to remediating reading difficulties for children who struggle to read, including students with dyslexia.
- Follow the bills' progress and add your voice to the growing acknowledgement that we must change reading education #rightnow #soallCanRead
Resources
Who is My Legislator?
General Assembly of MD Website
EMAIL TEMPLATE FOR SB 548 AND HB 910:
arly Reading Screening bills -- cut and paste to your email, add your personal information and send!
Dear [insert your State Delegate/Senator]
I am a constituent in your district and a member of Decoding Dyslexia Maryland. I would like your support for the Early Reading Screening and Instruction companion bills (HB 910 and SB 548) and the Teacher Preparation companion bills (HB 493 and SB 638).
INSERT PERSONAL STORY (after you download this letter -- see image to the left for instruction)
The Reading Screening bills, SB 548, sponsored by Senator Conway and the companion bill HB 910, sponsored by Chairman Anne Kaiser and Delegate Eric Luedtke, requires reading screening measures be implemented in pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and first grade to identify students at risk for reading difficulties and provide them with evidence based reading instruction so that they will attain grade level reading. These bills will be heard in committee on Feb. 21 in the Senate and Feb. 22 in the House.
The Teacher Preparation bills, HB 493, sponsored by Delegate Dana Stein and the Senate companion SB 638, sponsored by Senator Conway, requires teacher candidates to pass a foundational reading exam for certification as a K-6 teacher and requires that undergraduate coursework completed by teacher candidates include foundational, evidence based, structured literacy reading instruction. These bills will be heard in committee on Feb. 22 in the House and Feb. 28 in the Senate.
Understanding the science of reading and how to teach reading to all students is vital for early identification and remediation of at-risk students before they fail. Coupled with the measures suggested by the Kirwan Commission in HB 1415 to elevate the teaching profession and encourage new teachers to enter the profession, these bills benefit both students and teachers.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and I look forward to learning about your position on these bills. If you would like more information, please see the fact sheets posted online.
Sincerely,
Insert Name
Address
Address
Phone
Cc: [email protected]
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