Oklahoma senator introduces bill to boost early literacy

State Sen. Adam Pugh has proposed a bill to enhance literacy proficiency in Oklahoma by providing extra instruction, transition years and potential retention for students not meeting reading standards from kindergarten through third grade.

By Jason Burger, KOCO reporter

State Sen. Adam Pugh has introduced a bill aimed at improving literacy proficiency among young students in Oklahoma by starting interventions as early as kindergarten.

"We start in kindergarten by identifying the children who need remediation, intervention or extra resources," said Pugh, who represents District 41.

Senate Bill 1778, authored by Pugh, focuses on literacy proficiency early in a student's academic career, beginning in kindergarten. The bill proposes that if a child requires intervention by the end of summer, the state will enable school districts to provide necessary support by funding it.

The bill also mandates summer school for first through third graders who do not perform well on a literacy test at the end of the school year and introduces transition years for students who continue to struggle.

"After first grade, if you're still identified as needing additional interventions and you're at risk of being held back, this would provide this transitional year," Pugh said.

During these transition periods, students remain in the same grade as their peers but receive additional reading instruction.

"The uniqueness here is, it's not full retention—because it does allow for a child to stay with their peers at recess, stay with their friends at lunch, continue to take maybe gym classes," Pugh said. "Up to two hours a day, it would be high-dosage tutoring and high-level intervention to help a child catch up."

Third grade is highlighted as a pivotal year in the bill. If students are not proficient in reading by the end of the school year, they would be required to attend summer school, and if they still do not meet proficiency standards, they would be held back.

The bill also allocates funds for literacy coaches.

"We’re also putting additional dollars into the state department to what’s known as the Heroes Team, which is the literacy coaches, where we currently have about a dozen at the State Department working with 132 districts around the state," Pugh said.

The bill is scheduled for its first reading on Feb. 2, coinciding with the opening of the legislative session at the Capitol.