AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COORDINATED STATE-WIDE READING PLAN WITH THE STATE'S TWO-GENERATIONAL INITIATIVE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10-14v of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):

On or before January 1, 2014, the Department of Education shall develop a coordinated state-wide reading plan for students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, that contains strategies and frameworks that are research-driven to produce effective reading instruction and improvement in student performance. Such plan shall include: (1) The alignment of reading standards, instruction and assessments for students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive; (2) teachers' use of data on the progress of all students to adjust and differentiate instructional practices to improve student reading success; (3) the collection of information concerning each student's reading background, level and progress so that teachers can use such information to assist in the transition of a student's promotion to the next grade level; (4) an intervention for each student who is not making adequate progress in reading to help such student read at the appropriate grade level; (5) enhanced reading instruction for students who are reading at or above their grade level; (6) the coordination of reading instruction activities between parents, students, teachers and administrators of the school district at home and in school; (7) school district reading plans; (8) parental involvement by providing parents and guardians of students with opportunities for partnering with teachers and school administrators to (A) create an optimal learning environment, and (B) receive updates on the reading progress of their student; (9) teacher training and reading performance tests aligned with teacher preparation courses and professional development activities; (10) incentives for schools that have demonstrated significant improvement in student reading; (11) research-based literacy training for early childhood care and education providers and instructors working with children birth to five years of age, inclusive, and transition plans relating to oral language and preliteracy proficiency for children between prekindergarten and kindergarten; [and] (12) the alignment of reading instruction with the common core state standards adopted by the State Board of Education; and (13) the alignment of reading instruction with the two-generational initiative established pursuant to section 17b-112l, as amended by this act.

Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 17b-112l of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):

(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall serve as the two-generational initiative's coordinating agency for the executive branch. The initiative may review and consider the following, within available appropriations:

(1) Improvements to the coordination and delivery of early learning programs, adult education, child care, housing, job training, transportation, financial literacy and other related support services, including, but not limited to, health and mental health services, offered at one location, wherever possible;

(2) Alignment of existing state and local support systems around (A) the household, including how to leverage Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds, and services to equip such households with the tools and skills needed to overcome obstacles and engage opportunities, and (B) the coordinated state-wide reading plan for students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, developed pursuant to section 10-14v, as amended by this act;

(3) Development of a long-term plan to coordinate, align and optimize service delivery of relevant programs state wide. Such plan may include, but need not be limited to, (A) the targeted use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds, to the extent permissible under federal law, to support two-generational programming; (B) state incentives for private entities that develop such two-generational programming; (C) streamlined resource, practice and data sharing among and between agencies that serve families involved in the initiative in order to best serve such families; and (D) the development and assessment of two-generational programming outcomes; and

(4) Partnerships between state and national philanthropic organizations, as available, to provide support, technical assistance, guidance and best practices to the participating communities in the initiative and the advisory council established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.