State Actions Update – June 2021

Highlights:

• The Ohio education budget includes significant investments to expand public community schools, private education choice and industry certification incentives.
• New Hampshire becomes the tenth state in the country to adopt an education scholarship account program. An estimated 90,000 students are eligible to participate.    
• Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana and Michigan advanced early literacy policies to provide additional support for struggling readers and teacher training in the science of reading.

Arizona

Governor Doug Ducey signed the education budget, which includes significant investments in early literacy and expanding education opportunities:

• Supports students by ensuring early literacy teacher preparation is based on the science of reading and establishes a new endorsement for K-5 certified teachers who provide literacy instruction. Schools must also provide intervention plans and updates to parents of children who have an identified reading deficiency and requires the State Board of Education to adopt a statewide kindergarten entry evaluation.
  • The budget includes $6.9 million to:
    • Fund a statewide kindergarten entry evaluation;
    • Pay reading certification exam fees for teachers;
    • Create a statewide dyslexia screening process; and
    • Hire literacy coaches to better support students.
• Improves the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program:
  • Exempts low-income students in D or F rated schools from all other eligibility requirements for participation.
  • Allows parents to use ESA funds to pay for educational therapies not covered by their health insurance.
  • Reduces public school attendance qualification requirements from 100 to 45 days.
• Expands eligibility for the state’s tax credit scholarship programs to include students who are homeschooled, recently relocated to Arizona or previously participated in the Empowerment Scholarship Account program. The budget increases the limit on tax credits for contributions to school tuition organizations by $1 million and raises the cap on tax-credit funded scholarships
• Creates a new $30 million transportation modernization grant program to allow districts and charters to develop innovative transportation solutions for their students, including providing parents with direct grants to cover transportation costs.
• Includes $1 million for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to reduce exam costs for low-income students to earn an industry-recognized credential.
• Expands school-level financial transparency by investing $6 million over three years in a parent portal that includes data such as how much local, state and federal funding their school received; how the school spent their funding on classrooms and teachers; and to compare their school spending to other local schools.

Colorado

The Colorado Legislature passed key college and career pathway, digital divide and early literacy policies before adjourning on June 10.

• SB 119 sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bridges improves Colorado’s Career Development Success Program by:
  • Requiring the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), in collaboration with postsecondary and workforce stakeholders, to annually identify and incentivize the top industry-recognized credentials aligned with higher-skill, higher-wage, in-demand jobs. Pathways that lead to these credentials must also include opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school, in addition to earning the credential.  
  • Expanding the list of programs that qualify for incentive funding to include a broader range of work-based learning opportunities.
  • Requiring the department to collect and report credential attainment and work-based learning data by student groups. 
• SB 106 expands the state’s High School Innovative Learning Pilot program from 5 to 20 schools and creates the Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program. The High School Innovative Learning Pilot program provides full-time funding for students in participating high schools that provide innovative learning opportunities to support transitions to postsecondary education or the workforce. The Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program gives funding to low-income students who complete high school requirements in three years so they can take full-time college courses or career training in their final year of high school. 
• SB 60 directs the Colorado Broadband Office to contract with a nonprofit organization to create a reimbursement program to provide up to $600 to approximately 7,500 low-income or low-connectivity households to help cover the costs of broadband service.
• SB 151 requires local education providers to submit to the CDE certain information related to the Colorado READ Act, including the curriculum and instructional programs they use; how their early literacy funding is allocated; and the number of students who have literacy plans and those who are no longer identified as having a reading deficiency. The bill requires the department to post this information on its website in a user-friendly format, and each local provider must provide a link to the CDE information on their website.

Connecticut

• The Connecticut Legislature passed the 2021 state budget in SB 1202, which includes a provision requiring all K-3 teachers to provide instruction and materials grounded in the science of reading by 2023. The legislation also creates the state-level Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success to provide oversight of a statewide, systemized response to reading for grades PreK-3.

Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis signed several student-centered education policies into law:

• SB 1028 by Sen. Travis Hutson authorizes state universities and state colleges to sponsor and open public charter schools, as well as allows virtual charter schools to offer part-time instruction. In addition, the bill improves access to facilities funding for operators of Schools of Hope, which are high-impact schools serving students from low-income areas, and allows a charter school to recoup attorney’s fees if it wins its appeal of an application denial.
• SB 1108 by Senator Manny Diaz extends the Competency-Based Education Pilot Program for two additional years, through the 2022-23 school year. The bill also creates the Innovative Blended Learning and Real-Time Student Assessment Pilot Program where in-person and remote students are combined in one classroom experience. Students learn partly through online instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path or pace and partly at a supervised classroom location. The bill also provides every 11th-grade public school student with a free ACT or SAT (subject to appropriation).
• SB 52 by Sen. Ray Rodrigues establishes the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program to reimburse colleges for the cost of tuition and instructional materials for all eligible dual enrollment students. With $15.5 million in funding, the program allows homeschool and private school students, along with public school students, to receive free dual enrollment courses beginning in fall 2021. The scholarship program will reimburse colleges for summer dual enrollment beginning in 2022. The bill also renames Florida’s collegiate high school program to Early College High School program and revises the program to raise the expectation that secondary students earn a postsecondary credential in these programs.
• HB 1507 by Rep. Lauren Melo and Representative Clay Yarborough promotes workforce training programs based on the opportunity they provide students and workers to earn good wages and a rewarding career. Additionally, it ensures information is shared with the public so students and workers can make informed decisions on which program best serves their needs. 
• The 2021-22 budget makes significant investments in empowering families with opportunity, bridging the digital divide, strengthening college and career pathways, closing learning gaps and supporting educators. The Foundation for Florida’s Future published additional details and a statement in support of the budget.
• HB 429 by Rep. Andrew Learned assists students from military families when transferring to new schools, reaffirming Florida’s role as one of the best places to live and learn for military families. The bill requires the Florida Department of Education to establish a Purple Star Campus Program identifying schools that proactively support military-connected children and families, including public schools, charter schools and schools participating in Florida educational choice scholarship programs. The Foundation for Florida’s Future issued a statement in support.
• SB 366 by Sen. Travis Hutson supports students in work-based learning programs, provides multiple ways for students to meet dual enrollment admission requirements, and covers workers’ compensation for work-based learning.
• HB 173 by Rep. Allison Tant requires a student’s individual education plan (IEP) team to provide timely planning for the transition to postsecondary education and career opportunities for students with disabilities.
• HB 827 by Rep. Fred Hawkins provides bonus funding for classroom teachers who teach pre-AICE courses similar to the existing program providing bonus funding for classroom teachers who teach AICE courses.
• HB 131 by Reps. Wyman Duggan and James Buchanan creates a disqualification list that includes individuals prohibited from employment in a school under certain circumstances. The list is one of the employment screening tools available to school districts, charter schools and private schools that participate in a state scholarship program. These employers must also submit employees and their disqualifying conduct to the Department of Education for inclusion on the disqualification list. The list is maintained by the DOE and includes:
  • The identity of any person who has been permanently denied an educator certificate or whose certificate was permanently revoked and has been placed on the list;
  • The identity of any person who has been permanently disqualified by the Commissioner as an owner or operator of a private school participating in a state scholarship program; and,
  • The identity of any person who has been terminated, or has resigned in lieu of termination, from employment because of sexual misconduct with a student.
• HB 1261 by Rep. Jackie Toledo provides low cost tuition for in-demand STEM degree programs, through a ‘Buy One, Get One’ free tuition waiver program. It also provides one free course and a 25% discount on tuition and fees for remaining courses in an online bachelor’s degree program to veterans, active duty military servicemembers, active drilling members of the Florida National Guard and nontraditional students. The bill makes additional college and career pathway improvements and extends COVID-19 liability protection to postsecondary institutions, the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education for actions in compliance with guidance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
• HB 7033 by Rep. Traci Koster establishes the Task Force on Closing the Achievement Gap for Boys to examine evidence-based strategies for closing the achievement gap for boys and to make recommendations by December 1, 2021 to the DOE, the Governor and the Legislature. The recommendations must address:
  • Professional development for instructional personnel and school administrators;
  • The selection of curriculum and classroom materials in early learning programs and K-12 schools; and
  • Academic, behavioral and mental health supports to help educate young men who are better prepared for success in school and in life.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Legislature adjourned on June 12, and since then several student-centered education bills have been signed into law.

• SB 222 by Sen. Sharron Hewitt is a comprehensive early literacy policy that will provide additional supports for schools, teachers and struggling readers. It received unanimous support in both chambers. ExcelinEd in Action issued a statement in support.
  • Requires literacy skills standards in all educator preparation programs for candidates seeking certification to teach students in kindergarten through third grade;
  • Creates an early literacy screening to identify students with potential reading difficulties;
  • Requires parent notification for students identified with a reading difficulty in K-3; and
  • Provides for individual reading plans to be developed with parents that prescribe research-based reading interventions.
• HB 85 by Rep. Scott McKnight offers parents of struggling readers access to an annual $1,000 Reading Scholarship Account, a type of educational savings account that can be used to pay for tuition and fees related to part-time tutoring, summer and after-school literacy programs, instructional materials and more. ExcelinEd in Action issued a statement in support.
• SB 216 sponsored by Sen. Fred Mills supports teachers with early literacy training based in the science of reading to effectively teach foundational reading skills to students. This also includes K-3 teachers who teach math, science or social studies. It received unanimous support in both chambers.   
• HB 280 authored by Rep. Rick Edmonds removes the 20% enrollment cap on scholarship students attending private schools across the state, opening up educational opportunities for more students. 
• HB 211 by Rep. Mark Wright improves the open enrollment policy by allowing parents to appeal to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) if the district denies their enrollment request.
• SB 234 by Sen. Patrick McMath expands academic support for students who have shown signs of learning loss due to COVID-19 and provides accelerated learning options for them starting next school year.

Michigan

• The legislature passed HB 4411, the state’s $17.1 billion school aid budget. Among other provisions, included are:
  • An increase in school funding from $15.5 billion to $17.1 billion
  • $155 million for reading scholarships
  • $31.5 million for early literacy coaches
  • $410 million for teacher professional development in the science of reading
  • $1.2 million for AP and CLEP courses
  • ExcelinEd in Action issued a statement in support.
• The Senate Education and Career Development Committee heard a package of bipartisan early literacy bills. ExcelinEd in Action submitted a letter of support for the bills.
  • SB 380 authored by Sen. Jeff Irwin requires schools to screen K-3 students for characteristics of dyslexia so that proper intervention can be given to students through multi-tiered support systems. The bill also requires the Department of Education to provide schools with dyslexia expertise and certified teachers with professional learning on characteristics of and accommodations for students with dyslexia by the 2023-24 school year.
  • Chair Lana Theis authored SB 381 to require teacher preparation programs to provide instruction on the characteristics of dyslexia, evidence-based interventions, how to accommodate students with dyslexia and methods for developing a school’s infrastructure to meet the needs of students.
  • SB 382 authored by Sen. Dayna Polehanki improves the state’s teacher licensing by requiring teachers to meet updated reading credit requirements, such as having knowledge in the characteristics of dyslexia and evidence-based interventions, and completing a minimum number of credit hours related to dyslexia.
  • Sen. Jim Runestad authored SB 383 to create an advisory committee that will help the Department of Education update its dyslexia resource guide for schools.

New Hampshire

• Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 2, which includes a provision to establish the state’s first Education Freedom Account program. An estimated 30% of all New Hampshire students will meet the eligibility requirement (a household income equal to or below 300% of the federal poverty level), for an average grant of $4,600. The funds can be used for tuition, tutoring, online learning, textbooks and materials, internet connectivity, educational therapies and other learning experiences. New Hampshire is the tenth state in the country to adopt an education scholarship account program.  

Ohio

Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 110, the education budget, which includes significant investments to expand public community schools, private education choice and industry certification incentives. Highlights of the bill:

• Dedicates $108 million over two years to attract high-quality community school networks with proven success to serve Ohio students and eliminates geographic limitations on the creation of new community schools. 
• Increases funding for community school facilities from $250 to $500 per pupil, meeting an additional 11.2 percent of the facility needs of community schools. 
• Creates an Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) education savings accounts to provide $500 grants to students in low- and middle-income families for various enrichment and educational activities and services.  
• Increases student access for the popular EdChoice scholarship program by removing the cap on enrollment. 
• Increases the maximum scholarship awards for the EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarship programs to provide families with additional resources to meet the needs of their students, from $4,650 to $5,500 for grades K-8 and from $6,000 to $7,500 for grades 9-12, while also securing predictable annual funding for the programs. 
• Authorizes a new program providing a tax credit of up to $750 for taxpayers who donate to a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to primary and secondary school students and that prioritizes low-income students. 
• Invests $41 million over two years to incentivize students to earn industry-recognized credentials prior to graduation so they are prepared for higher-skill, higher-wage careers that are in demand. 
• Adds $367 million in additional funding over the next two years for public school students and makes changes to the formula for distributing funds, including weights based on student characteristics.  
• Includes $250 million for a broadband grant program to increase access and connectivity. 
• Requires the Ohio Department of Education to develop a state plan for primary and secondary computer science education and update the standards and model curriculum for computer science in grades K-12 within one year. 

Pennsylvania

• In SB 381, the Pennsylvania Legislature enacted an expansion of their Educational Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship program, from $135 million to $175 million. If that $175 million cap is reached, the increase will result in an estimated 15,000 additional available scholarships (at the current average scholarship value of $2,000) for eligible low-income Pennsylvania families.

Texas

Governor Greg Abbott signed several student-centered education bills into law to close learning gaps and bridge the digital divide.

• SB 1716 by Sen. Larry Taylor will solidify a temporary program that will provide $1,500 microgrants to families of students with special needs to purchase educational resources and therapies to offset learning disruptions.
• HB 5 aims to address the digital divide by expanding broadband services for more Texans by creating an Office of Broadband Services that will determine where service gaps exist and utilize federal, state and philanthropic dollars to begin to close those gaps. ExcelinEd in Action is providing recommendations on the benefits of broadband for the delivery of education.
• HB 4545 sponsored by Rep. Harold Dutton establishes a strong foundation grant program to provide accelerated instruction for students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessments. It also creates accelerated learning communities for third-grade and fifth-grade students who are not meeting math or reading standards.