Sec. 19.7. (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the state board shall establish and require a literacy endorsement for individuals first licensed after June 30, 2025, to teach a content area involving literacy instruction, including special education, in prekindergarten through grade 5.

     (b) Except as provided in section 19.8(a) of this chapter, beginning July 1, 2027, the department may not renew a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license, or a comparable license under prior rules, issued to an individual who, based on the content area for which the individual is licensed, including special education, provides literacy instruction to students in prekindergarten through grade 5 unless the individual receives a literacy endorsement under this section.

     (c) To be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement, an individual must meet the following:

(1) Complete eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional development that is:

(A) aligned to the science of reading;

(B) provided by an organization that is:

(i) accredited by the International Dyslexia Association; or

(ii) aligned with Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (KPS) as determined by the department; or

(C) approved by the department.

(2) Demonstrate proficiency in scientifically based reading instruction skills aligned to the science of reading on a written examination or through other procedures prescribed by the department in accordance with this section.

     (d) The eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional development required under subsection (c)(1) must provide individualized and on demand support. The evidence based professional development required under subsection (c)(1) must:

(1) promote explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction as the primary approach to literacy instruction;

(2) align with both word recognition and language comprehension;

(3) promote an understanding of how language, reading, and writing relate to each other;

(4) promote strategies for differentiated instruction for:

(A) students with:

(i) reading difficulties; or

(ii) disabilities; and

(B) English language learners;

(5) focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and

(6) allow participants to implement the strategies into a classroom environment with the opportunity for feedback throughout the professional development experience.

     (e) The written examination required under subsection (c)(2) shall ensure the individual demonstrates the ability to:

(1) effectively teach foundational reading skills, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;

(2) implement reading instruction using high quality instructional materials aligned to the science of reading; and

(3) provide effective instruction and interventions for students with reading deficiencies.

     (f) The department shall approve and provide the evidence based professional development necessary for an individual to receive a literacy endorsement under this section.

     (g) The department shall establish the procedure for an existing teacher to add the literacy endorsement established under this section to the teacher’s license.

     (h) The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the following:

(1) Adopt, validate, and implement the examination or other procedures required by subsection (c)(2).

        (2) Establish examination scores indicating proficiency.

        (3) Otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.

As added by P.L.243-2023, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.5-2024, SEC.5; P.L.150-2024, SEC.23.