SB78 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, Alabama Literacy Act, postpone implementation of the third grade retention requirments from 2021-2022 school year until 2025-2026 school year, Sec. 16-6G-5 am'd.

Summary

SB78 would postpone the third-grade reading retention/promotion requirement under the Alabama Literacy Act from the 2021-2022 school year to the 2025-2026 school year.

What This Bill Does

It delays the date by which third-grade students must demonstrate reading skills to be promoted to fourth grade. The Alabama Literacy Act's framework—core reading instruction, interventions, dyslexia supports, summer reading camps, and required reporting—remains in place, but the promotion expectation would take effect in 2025-2026. Students would still have three ways to demonstrate reading skills for promotion (board-approved assessment, alternative assessment, or a reading portfolio), with guidelines provided for implementation. Schools would continue to require reading improvement plans, targeted interventions, and progress monitoring, and good-cause exemptions could still apply in eligible cases.

Who It Affects

• K-3 students across Alabama and their families, whose promotion decisions are delayed until they demonstrate reading skills or receive a good-cause exemption.
• Local education agencies and public schools (districts) and their staff, who must continue implementing reading programs, interventions, summer camps, and reporting requirements, with the new timeline.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-6G-5 to postpone the third-grade retention requirement from the 2021-2022 school year to the 2025-2026 school year.
• Keeps the core reading instruction and time requirements for K-3, including science-based reading programs and dyslexia considerations.
• Requires ongoing reading intervention for students with deficiencies, periodic evaluations, and use of state-approved intervention programs in addition to core instruction.
• Mandates summer reading camps for K-3 students with identified deficiencies (minimum 70 hours, highly effective reading teachers, and progress assessments).
• Establishes the Alabama Summer Achievement Program for the lowest-performing schools and outlines funding, guidelines, and oversight for literacy initiatives.
• Requires annual reporting by local education agencies on reading deficiencies, progress, promotion outcomes, and teacher training in the science of reading and dyslexia, using a uniform reporting format.
• Provides three paths for third-grade promotion (board-approved assessment, alternative assessment, and reading portfolio) with guidelines for implementation.
• Maintains good-cause exemptions from retention for eligible students (e.g., certain disabilities, English learners with limited instruction, and prolonged intensive intervention), with procedural steps for approval and notification.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education