Section 158.791 - Legislative findings and intent regarding reading and mathematics(1) The General Assembly hereby finds that: (a) Reading proficiency is a gateway skill necessary for all of Kentucky students to achieve the academic goals established in KRS 158.6451. It is Kentucky's goal that all children learn to read well before exiting grade three (3) and that all middle and high school students have the skills necessary to read complex materials in specific core subjects and comprehend and constructively apply the information; and(b) Mathematics proficiency is essential for all Kentucky students to achieve the academic goals established in KRS 158.6451. It is Kentucky's goal that all children have the skills necessary to demonstrate procedural skill and fluency, building from conceptual understanding to application, in order to solve real-world problems.(2) It is the intent of the General Assembly that: (a) Every elementary school: 1. Provide comprehensive schoolwide reading and mathematics instruction aligned to reading, writing, and mathematics standards required by KRS 158.6453 and outlined in administrative regulation promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Education;2. Provide a multitiered system of supports, as set forth in and required by KRS 158.305, to support and engage all students in learning to read at the proficient level, meaning a level that reflects developmentally appropriate grade-level performance, by the end of grade three (3);3. Provide a multitiered system of supports, as set forth in KRS 158.8402, to support and engage all students in learning to apply mathematical content and practices at a proficient level, meaning a level that reflects developmentally appropriate grade-level performance, by the end of grade five (5);4. Ensure quality instruction for reading and mathematics by highly trained teachers and intervention by individuals most qualified to provide the intervention; and5. Provide high quality library media programs;(b) Every middle and high school:1. Provide direct, explicit instruction to students lacking skills in how to read, learn, and analyze information in key subjects, including language, reading, English, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and humanities, practical living skills, and career studies;2. Ensure that teachers have the skills to help all students develop critical content knowledge, strategies, and skills for subject-based reading and grade-level appropriate mathematics;3. Provide a multitiered system of supports to support and engage all students in learning to apply mathematical content and practices at a proficient level; and4. Ensure all students routinely have opportunities to experience high-quality mathematics instruction, learn challenging, grade-level appropriate mathematics content and practices, and receive the necessary support to make progress toward proficiency;(c) The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide technical assistance to local school districts in the identification of high-quality professional development, including teaching strategies to help teachers in each subject area to: 1. Implement evidence-based reading, intervention, and instructional strategies that emphasize phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and connections between reading and writing acquisition, and motivation to read to address the diverse needs of students;2. Implement evidence-based mathematics instruction, intervention, and instructional strategies that emphasize algebraic reasoning, conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, geometry, data and measurement, statistics and probability, number sense, place value understanding, spatial reasoning, and subitizing for multiplicative reasoning;3. Identify and teach the grade-level content, practices, and skills that students need to comprehend the concepts and content of each subject area; and4. Use learning experiences and high-quality instructional materials that will help the students comprehend, meet grade-level expectations, and constructively apply information based on the unique content of each subject area;(d) The Education Professional Standards Board shall review and revise when deemed necessary the teacher certification and licensure requirements to ensure that all teachers, regardless of the subject area taught, are prepared to improve students' subject reading and mathematics skills; and(e) The department shall collaborate with relevant groups for the purpose of increasing student outcomes in literacy and mathematics.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 222,§ 1, eff. 7/15/2024.Amended by 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 40,, eff. 3/29/2022.Effective:7/15/2010
Amended 2010, Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 1, effective7/15/2010. -- Created 2005, Ky. Acts ch. 127, sec. 2, effective 3/18/2005.