2024-01-18                     House Journal                      Page 1304
HB 274                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 274 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing                                                           
     reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in                                                        
     grades kindergarten through three."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 16 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to screening reading                                                            
deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public                                                              
school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
This bill would make two amendments to the Alaska Reads Act                                                                     
(Chapter 40, SLA 2022 (HB 114)) designed to assist school districts                                                             
with implementation of literacy screening assessments and scheduling                                                            
of non-progression meetings with parents. The first change would                                                                
align the Act's literacy screening requirements with best practices by                                                          
requiring administration of the assessment three times a year for all                                                           
students in grades kindergarten through three. The second change                                                                
adjusts the statutory timeline for administration of the spring literacy                                                        
screener to accommodate school district calendars by adjusting the                                                              

2024-01-18                     House Journal                      Page 1305
time period during which the spring assessment and parent meeting are                                                           
scheduled.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"