Delaware Governor Carney Signs Legislation Focused on Improving Early Literacy 

“Literacy is the bedrock of success for all students. I applaud Gov. John Carney and the Delaware legislature for investing in high-quality early literacy programs and for providing educators with the training and tools they need to ensure all children become strong readers.”  

House Bill (HB 304) and Senate Bill (SB 4) will improve the state’s approach to reading instruction, aligning it to the science of reading and building a strong foundation in literacy for students in kindergarten through grade 3. These bills will ensure that struggling readers are identified early and provided the instruction they need to get on track; provide teachers with professional development and coaching opportunities to transform policy into practice; and empower parents to be involved in improving their child’s reading skills. 

The legislation was cosponsored by the entire State Senate and a majority of House members, and specially championed by Sen. Laura Sturgeon and Rep. Kimberly Williams. ExcelinEd in Action was grateful to work alongside numerous literacy-focused organizations, including the Rodel Foundation and Reading Assist, in supporting this bill. 

Key provisions of HB 304 include:  

• Requiring all public school students in kindergarten through grade 3 to participate in a universal reading screening three times each year to identify potential reading deficiencies. 
• Requiring charter schools and districts to notify parents of their child’s screening results.  
• Requiring charter schools and districts to report, by grade, the number of students in kindergarten through grade 3 determined to have potential reading deficiencies and the intervention approaches being utilized.  

Key provisions of SB 4 include: 

• Requiring the Delaware Department of Education to maintain and publish a list of evidence-based, reading instruction curricula for grades kindergarten through three. 
• Requiring that by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, school districts and charter schools serving students in grades kindergarten through three do all of the following:  
  • Adopt a reading instruction curriculum from the Department’s approved list.  
  • Demonstrate that all educators who teach reading complete professional development aligned with the essential components of evidence-based reading instruction.      
  • Identify a school-based supervisory position responsible for assisting with the implementation of the adopted curriculum. 
  • Allow school districts and charter schools to apply to use alternative curriculum that meet the requirement for scientifically based reading instruction.