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HB 2914
Missouri House•Introduced
Summary
HB 2914, which creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to literacy of elementary school students, was introduced in the House on Jan 12, 2026 by Rep. Ed Lewis (R). It was referred to Emerging Issues, and last saw action on May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H).
Record
Text
HB 2914 has no co-sponsors and has not gone to a roll call.
hb2914/introduced.txtSECOND REGULAR SESSIONHOUSE BILL NO. 2914103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLYINTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS.6330H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief ClerkAN ACTTo repeal sections 161.097, 161.241, 167.268, 167.340, 167.645, and 186.080, RSMo, and toenact in lieu thereof five new sections relating to literacy of elementary schoolstudents.Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:Section A. Sections 161.097, 161.241, 167.268, 167.340, 167.645, and 186.080,2 RSMo, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections3 161.097, 161.241, 167.268, 167.340, and 167.645, to read as follows:161.097. 1. The state board of education shall establish standards and procedures by2 which it will evaluate all teacher training institutions in this state for the approval of teacher3 education programs. The state board of education shall not require teacher training4 institutions to meet national or regional accreditation as a part of its standards and procedures5 in making those evaluations, but it may accept such accreditations in lieu of such approval if6 standards and procedures set thereby are at least as stringent as those set by the board. The7 state board of education's standards and procedures for evaluating teacher training institutions8 shall equal or exceed those of national or regional accrediting associations.92. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and secondary10 education the "Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation", hereinafter referred to as11 "MABEP". The MABEP shall advise the state board of education and the coordinating board12 for higher education regarding matters of mutual interest in the area of quality educator13 preparation programs in Missouri. The advisory board shall include at least three active14 elementary or secondary classroom teachers and at least three faculty members within15 approved educator preparation programs. The classroom teacher members shall be selectedEXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and isintended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.HB 2914 216 to represent various regions of the state and districts of different sizes. The faculty17 representatives shall represent institutions from various regions of the state and sizes of18 programs. The advisory board shall hold regular meetings that allow members to share needs19 and concerns and plan strategies to enhance teacher preparation.203. Upon approval by the state board of education of the teacher education program at21 a particular teacher training institution, any person who graduates from that program, and22 who meets other requirements which the state board of education shall prescribe by rule,23 regulation and statute shall be granted a certificate or license to teach in the public schools of24 this state. However, no such rule or regulation shall require that the program from which the25 person graduates be accredited by any national or regional accreditation association.264. The state board of education shall, in consultation with MABEP, align literacy and27 reading instruction coursework for teacher education programs in early childhood,28 kindergarten to fifth grade elementary teacher certification, middle school communication29 arts, high school communication arts, and all reading and special education certificates to30 include the following:31(1) Teacher candidates shall receive classroom and clinical training in:32(a) The core components of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,33 comprehension, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary;34(b) Oral and written language development; and35(c) Identification of reading deficiencies, dyslexia, and other language difficulties;36 and37(2) Teacher candidates shall also have training on:38(a) The selection and use of high-quality reading curricula and instructional39 materials;40(b) The administration and interpretation of assessments; and41(c) How to translate assessment results into effective practice in the classroom42 specific to the needs of students[; and43(d) Additional best practices in the field of literacy instruction as recommended by44 the literacy advisory council pursuant to section 186.080].455. Beginning July 1, 2027, the department of elementary and secondary46 education shall annually review and publicly report on the compliance of educator47 preparation programs with subsection 4 of this section. The review shall include an48 evaluation of whether instruction is grounded in the components of evidence-based49 reading instruction, such as phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,50 comprehension, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Educator preparation programs51 not in compliance with subsection 4 of this section shall not be approved to certify new52 teachers.HB 2914 3536. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is54 created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies55 with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.56 This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the57 general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to58 disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of59 rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be invalid60 and void.161.241. 1. The state board of education, in collaboration with the coordinating2 board for higher education [and the commissioner's advisory council under section 186.080],3 shall develop a plan to establish a comprehensive system of services for reading instruction.42. The state board of education shall establish and periodically update a statewide5 literacy plan that supports high quality, evidence-based reading instruction for all students.63. The state board of education shall create an office of literacy. The commissioner of7 education shall coordinate staff with roles relating to literacy and align staff work around8 supporting best practices in reading instruction.94. The state board of education shall align literacy and reading instruction coursework10 for teacher education programs as required under subsection 4 of section 161.097.115. Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary education12 shall recruit and employ quality teacher trainers with expertise in reading instruction and13 provide opportunities for evidence-based professional development in reading instruction14 available for all active teachers.156. The department shall maintain and publish data on reading outcomes, provided that16 the report shall not include individually identifiable student data.177. The department shall publish criteria and examples to help districts and schools18 select and use evidence-based reading curricula and instructional materials. Additionally, the19 department shall publish a list of curricula that ensure instruction is explicit, systematic,20 diagnostic, and based on phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,21 comprehension, morphology, syntax, and semantics. This shall be a resource to districts.228. The department shall provide online tools and training for all active teachers23 teaching in kindergarten through grade three on evidence-based reading instruction.249. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Evidence-based Reading25 Instruction Program Fund". The fund shall be administered by the department and used to26 reimburse school districts and charter schools for efforts to improve student literacy,27 including, but not limited to: initiatives that provide optional training and materials to28 teachers regarding best practices in reading pedagogies; resources for parents and guardians29 to assist them in teaching their children to read; funding for reading tutoring programs insideHB 2914 430 or outside of regular school hours; stipends for teachers who undergo additional training in31 reading instruction, which may also count toward professional development requirements;32 and funding for summer reading programs. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated33 annually by the general assembly from general revenue to such fund, any moneys paid into34 the state treasury and required by law to be credited to such fund, and any gifts, bequests, or35 donations to such fund. The fund shall be kept separate and apart from all other moneys in36 the state treasury and shall be paid out by the state treasurer pursuant to chapter 33.37 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the fund at the38 end of the biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund. All39 interest and moneys earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund.4010. Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary41 education shall remit to each school district and charter school five hundred dollars for42 each grade four student enrolled in such school district or charter school who exhibited43 a substantial reading deficiency in any of grades kindergarten to grade three, or who44 was identified as dyslexic, and who subsequently scores at the proficient level or higher45 in reading on the annual summative English language arts assessment administered to46 grade four students.167.268. 1. Each school district and charter school shall have on file a policy for2 reading success plans. Each school district and charter school shall provide all parents and3 guardians of students, including parents of students who are identified as having a reading4 deficiency or substantial reading deficiency [in reading] under [subsection 1] subsections 55 and 6 of section 167.645, with suggestions for regular parent-guided home reading.62. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop guidelines to7 assist districts and charter schools in formulating policies for reading success plans. Such8 guidelines may include, but are not limited to, measures of reading proficiency, strategies for9 addressing reading deficiencies, timelines for measuring pupil improvement in reading, and10 information on screening of dyslexia. Such guidelines may also identify performance levels11 for pupils identified as handicapped or severely handicapped and conditions under which12 such pupils may be exempt from the provisions of this section and section 167.645.133. Each school district and charter school shall provide intensive reading instruction14 to students as provided in section 167.645.167.340. 1. The provisions of sections 167.340 to 167.346 shall be known and may2 be cited as the "Read to be Ready Program".32. Beginning July 1, [2000] 2027, if a school district provides reading improvement4 instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade who do not meet the [district's]5 state's objectives for reading as demonstrated by performance on the [district's chosen6 methods of reading assessment] Missouri universal reading literacy assessmentHB 2914 57 established in section 167.645, such students who receive reading improvement instruction8 pursuant to this subsection may be counted for additional average daily attendance for state9 school aid during their reading improvement instruction time if such time falls outside normal10 school hours.113. Reading improvement instruction [may] shall take the form of summer school[,12 provided that the]. Such summer school instruction [addresses] shall address the reading13 deficiency, additional hours of instruction, or such other methods as the district may select14 including, but not limited to[,]:15(1) Smaller class sizes[,]; and16(2) Additional resources including:17(a) Computers[,];18(b) Reading specialists[,];19(c) Teacher and administrator training[,];20(d) Tutoring[,];21(e) Phonics instruction; and22(f) Use of parents and volunteers.167.645. 1. (1) The "Missouri Universal Reading Literacy Assessment" is2 hereby established as a uniform, universal, literacy-based reading assessment3 administered to students in kindergarten through grade three in every school district4 and charter school in the state. The literacy assessment shall score each student in one5 of the following categories: "below basic", "basic", "grade-level", "proficient", or6 "advanced". Proficiency benchmarks associated with these categories shall be7 determined by the department of elementary and secondary education.8(2) Each school district and charter school shall assess all students enrolled in9 kindergarten through grade three [at the beginning and end of each school year] for their level10 of reading [or reading readiness on state-approved reading assessments. Additionally, all11 school districts and charter schools shall assess any newly enrolled student in grades one12 through five for their level of reading or reading readiness on a reading assessment from the13 state-approved list] proficiency on the literacy assessment. Each school district and14 charter school shall administer the literacy assessment during three annual15 administration windows established by the department of elementary and secondary16 education. The first such annual administration window shall occur within the first17 twenty days of the school year, with the results of such literary assessment sent in a letter18 to the student's parent, guardian, or other individual having control or custody of such19 student within the first thirty days of the school year.202. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide the21 literacy assessment at no cost to school districts and charter schools.HB 2914 6223. The literacy assessment shall:23(1) Be appropriate for students in kindergarten through grade three;24(2) Be used to comply with the dyslexia screening requirements established in25 section 167.950; and26(3) Screen for characteristics of dyslexia and reading deficiency and assess the27 following skills as developmentally appropriate:28(a) Phonological and phonemic awareness;29(b) Sound-symbol recognition;30(c) Alphabet knowledge;31(d) Decoding;32(e) Rapid naming;33(f) Encoding; and34(g) Oral reading fluency.354. Student results on the literacy assessment shall not be used to make decisions36 concerning the accreditation classification of a public school or school district.375. At the beginning of the school year, each school district and charter school shall38 provide a reading success plan to any student who:39(1) Exhibits a reading deficiency or substantial reading deficiency [in reading which40 creates a barrier to] that impedes the child's progress learning to read. The identification of41 such deficiency may be based upon the most recent assessments [or teacher observation]; or42(2) Has been identified as being at risk of dyslexia in [the] a statewide dyslexia43 screening or has a formal diagnosis of dyslexia.446. (1) For the purposes of this section, a reading deficiency shall refer to a student45 who scores "basic" on the literacy assessment, and a substantial reading deficiency shall46 refer to a student who [is one or more grade level or levels behind in reading or reading47 readiness] scores below "below basic" on the literacy assessment; provided that nothing in48 this section shall be interpreted to prevent a school district or charter school from offering a49 reading success plan to any student based on an assessment completed [at the start and end of50 the school year] during the three administration windows or based on teacher observation.51(2) For any student entering the school district or charter school after the start of the52 school year, such student shall be:53(a) Assessed within the first twenty school days after entering such school; and54(b) Provided a reading success plan in the event the student has been identified as55 having a reading deficiency or substantial reading deficiency based on the student's most56 recent assessment [or otherwise being identified through teacher observation. The student's57 reading proficiency shall be reassessed by reading assessments on the state-approved list].HB 2914 758 The student shall continue to be provided with intensive reading instruction under a reading59 success plan until the reading deficiency is remedied.60[2.] 7. The district or charter school shall notify the parent or guardian of any student61 in kindergarten through grade three who exhibits a reading deficiency or substantial reading62 deficiency [in reading], as described in [subsection 1] subsections 5 and 6 of this section, at63 least annually in writing and within thirty days after identification of a reading deficiency64 or a modification to services provided to the student for a reading deficiency, and in an65 appropriate, alternative manner for the parent or other guardian if necessary, of the following:66(1) That the child has been identified as having a reading deficiency or substantial67 reading deficiency [in reading];68(2) A description of the services currently provided to the child;69(3) A description of the proposed supplemental instructional services and supports70 that the school district will provide to the child that are designed to remediate the identified71 area of reading deficiency. For students identified as being at risk of dyslexia or those that72 have a diagnosis of dyslexia the district shall provide an explanation that the instruction that73 will be used to teach the child reading shall be explicit, systematic, and diagnostic and based74 on phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, morphology,75 syntax, and semantics;76(4) Strategies for parents and guardians to use in helping the child succeed in reading77 proficiency, including but not limited to the promotion of parent-guided home reading;78(5) That if the child has a substantial reading deficiency that is not corrected by79 the end of grade three, the child shall not be promoted to grade four unless the child80 qualifies for a good cause exemption under subsections 8 and 9 of this section.81[3. If the] 8. A school district or charter school [provides] providing a summer82 reading program under this section[, the district or charter school] shall notify the parent or83 guardian of each student who exhibits a reading deficiency or substantial reading deficiency84 [in reading of the opportunity to] that the student is required to attend the summer reading85 program.86[4.] 9. (1) Beginning in the 2027-28 school year and continuing in all subsequent87 school years, if a student has a substantial reading deficiency at the end of third grade[, the88 student's parent or guardian and appropriate school staff shall discuss whether the student89 should be retained in grade level, based on a consideration of all relevant factors, including90 the reading deficiency, the student's progress in other subject areas, and the student's overall91 intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development. A decision to promote or retain a92 student with a substantial reading deficiency at the end of grade three shall be made only after93 direct personal consultation with the student's parent or guardian and after the formulation of94 a specific plan of action to remedy the student's reading deficiency] as determined by theHB 2914 895 department of elementary and secondary education based upon such student's96 performance on the literacy assessment, the student shall be retained in grade three97 unless:98(a) Such student scores "basic" or higher on a retest opportunity under99 subdivision (2) of this subsection; or100(b) Such student qualifies for a good cause exemption under subsections 10 and101 11 of this section.102(2) A student retained under subdivision (1) of this subsection may be promoted103 to grade four if the student successfully completes a state-approved summer reading104 program and scores "basic" or higher on a retest opportunity through the literacy105 assessment.10610. A student may be promoted to grade four despite scoring "below basic" on107 the literacy assessment if the student has a good cause exemption. Good cause108 exemptions shall be limited to the following:109(1) Students with disabilities who have an approved individualized education110 program developed under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act111 (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1401 et seq., as amended, that indicates that participation in112 the statewide assessment program is not appropriate, consistent with state and federal113 law;114(2) Students with disabilities who participate in the statewide summative English115 language arts assessment and who have either of the following plans reflecting that the116 student has received intensive reading intervention for more than two years but still117 demonstrates a substantial reading deficiency:118(a) An approved individualized education program developed under the federal119 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1401 et seq., as120 amended; or121(b) A 504 plan created under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of122 1973, 29 U.S.C. Section 794, as amended;123(3) Students identified as English language learners who have had fewer than124 two years of instruction in an English language learner program; and125(4) Students who have already been retained at least once in any of grades126 kindergarten through grade three.12711. Requests for a good cause exemption shall be made in accordance with the128 following requirements:129(1) Documentation shall be submitted from the student's teacher to the school130 principal indicating that the promotion of the student is appropriate. Such131 documentation shall consist only of the good cause exemption being requested andHB 2914 9132 the existing reading improvement plan or individualized education program, as133 applicable; and134(2) The school principal shall review and discuss the recommendation with the135 teacher and make the determination as to whether the student qualifies for one of the136 good cause exemptions described in subsection 10 in this section. If the school principal137 determines that the student is eligible for one of the good cause exemptions based on the138 documentation provided, the school principal shall make such recommendation in139 writing to the superintendent of the school district. The superintendent shall accept or140 reject the school principal's recommendation in writing.14112. (1) The school district shall assist schools with providing written notification142 to the parent or guardian of any student who is retained about the following:143(a) That such student has not met the reading level required for promotion;144(b) The reasons the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption; and145(c) That such student will be retained in grade three.146(2) The notification required under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall147 include a description of the proposed interventions and supports that will be provided to148 the child to remedy the identified area or areas of reading deficiency in the following149 school year.15013. A student retained under subsection 7 of this section shall be provided151 intensive reading intervention to remedy the student's specific reading deficiency. The152 reading intervention services shall include effective instructional strategies to accelerate153 student progress. Each school district shall conduct a review of student reading154 improvement plans for all students retained in grade three. The review shall address155 additional supports and services, as described in this subsection, needed to remedy each156 identified area of reading deficiency.15714. A school district shall provide the following for a student retained under158 subsection 7 of this section:159(1) A highly effective teacher of reading, as demonstrated by student reading160 performance data and teacher performance evaluations;161(2) Reading intervention services and supports to correct each identified area of162 reading deficiency including, but not limited to:163(a) More dedicated time than the previous school year in scientifically research-164 based reading instruction and intervention;165(b) Use of reading strategies or programs, or both, that are scientifically166 research-based and have proven results in accelerating student reading achievement167 within the same school year;HB 2914 10168(c) Daily targeted small group reading intervention based on student needs169 including, but not limited to, explicit and systematic instruction with more detailed170 explanations, more extensive opportunities for guided practice, and more opportunities171 for error correction and feedback; and172(d) Frequently monitoring the reading progress of each student's reading skills173 throughout the school year and adjusting instruction according to student needs;174(3) The option of a transitional instructional setting. Such setting shall175 specifically be designed to produce learning gains sufficient to meet grade four176 performance standards in all other core academic areas while continuing to correct each177 area of reading deficiency;178(4) Before or after school, or both, supplemental research-based reading179 intervention delivered by a teacher or tutor with specialized reading training; and180(5) A "Read at Home" plan outlined in a parental contract including, but not181 limited to, participation in parent training workshops or regular parent-guided home182 reading activities, or both, that are aligned to scientifically based reading research.18315. Each school district shall establish at each school, where applicable, an184 intensive acceleration class for any student retained in grade three under subsection 7 of185 this section who was previously retained in kindergarten, grade one, or grade two. The186 intensive acceleration class shall include criteria established in subsection 14 of this187 section and:188(1) Have a reduced teacher-student ratio; and189(2) Provide explicit, systematic, sequential, and cumulative reading instruction190 and intervention for the majority of student contact time each day.191[5.] 16. Each school district or charter school shall do all of the following:192(1) Provide students who are identified as having a reading deficiency or substantial193 reading deficiency [in reading] under [subsection 1] subsections 5 and 6 of this section, have194 been identified as being at risk of dyslexia in the statewide dyslexia screening, or have a195 formal diagnosis of dyslexia with intensive instructional services and supports specified in a196 reading success plan, as appropriate according to student need, free of charge, to remediate197 the identified areas of reading deficiency, including additional scientific, evidence-based198 reading instruction and other strategies prescribed by the school district or charter school199 which may include but are not limited to the following:200(a) Small group or individual instruction;201(b) Reduced teacher-student ratios;202(c) More frequent progress monitoring;203(d) Tutoring or mentoring;204(e) Extended school day, week, or year; andHB 2914 11205(f) Summer reading programs;206(2) For any student with a formal diagnosis of dyslexia or for a student who was207 found to be at risk of dyslexia in the statewide dyslexia screening, the school district or208 charter school shall provide evidence-based reading instruction that addresses phonology,209 sound-symbol association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and semantics provided210 through systematic, cumulative, explicit, and diagnostic methods;211(3) At regular intervals, but no less than four times per year in a manner that reflects212 progress through each school term, notify the parent or guardian of academic and other213 progress being made by the student and give the parent or guardian other useful information;214(4) In addition to required reading enhancement and acceleration strategies, provide215 all parents of students, including parents of students who are identified as having a reading216 deficiency or substantial reading deficiency [in reading] under [subsection 1] subsections 5217 and 6 of this section, with a plan that includes suggestions for regular parent-guided home218 reading.219[6.] 17. Each school district and charter school shall ensure that intensive reading220 instruction through a reading development initiative shall be provided to each kindergarten221 through grade [five] three student who is assessed as exhibiting a reading deficiency or222 substantial reading deficiency [in reading]. In addition to the requirements otherwise223 provided, such instruction shall also comply with all of the following criteria:224(1) Be provided to all kindergarten through grade [five] three students who exhibit a225 reading deficiency or substantial reading deficiency [in reading] under this section. The226 assessments shall measure phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and227 comprehension;228(2) Be provided during regular school hours;229(3) Provide a reading curriculum that meets the requirements of section 170.014, and230 at a minimum has the following specifications:231(a) Assists students assessed as exhibiting a reading deficiency or substantial232 reading deficiency [in reading] to develop the skills to read at grade level;233(b) Provides skill development in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,234 and comprehension;235(c) Includes a scientifically based and reliable assessment;236(d) Provides initial and ongoing analysis of each student's reading progress; and237(e) Provides a curriculum in core academic subjects to assist the student in238 maintaining or meeting proficiency levels for the appropriate grade in all academic subjects.239[7.] 18. School districts and charter schools shall report to the department the specific240 intensive reading interventions and supports implemented by the school district or charter241 school pursuant to this section as well as the reading assessment data collected for gradesHB 2914 12242 kindergarten through [five] three. The department shall annually prescribe the components243 of required or requested reports.244[8.] 19. (1) Each school district and charter school shall address reading proficiency245 as part of its comprehensive school improvement plan, drawing upon information about246 children from assessments conducted pursuant to subsection 1 of this section and the247 prevalence of deficiencies identified by classroom, elementary school, and other student248 characteristics. As part of its comprehensive school improvement plan or contract, each249 school district or charter school shall review chronic early elementary absenteeism for its250 impact on literacy development. If more than fifteen percent of an attendance center's251 students are not at grade level in reading by the end of third grade, the comprehensive school252 improvement plan or contract shall include strategies to reduce that percentage, including253 school and community strategies to raise the percentage of students who are proficient in254 reading.255(2) Each school district and charter school shall provide professional development256 services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in responding to children's unique257 reading issues and needs and to increase the use of evidence-based strategies.25820. Each district school board shall, by October first of each year, report in259 writing to the department of elementary and secondary education the following260 information regarding the immediately preceding school year:261(1) The school board's policies and procedures regarding student retention and262 promotion;263(2) By grade level, the number and percentage of all students in grades264 kindergarten through three with reading deficiencies or substantial reading deficiencies;265(3) By grade level, the number and percentage of all students retained in grades266 kindergarten to three due to substantial reading deficiencies; and267(4) The total number and percentage of students in grade three who were268 promoted with good cause exemptions, delineated by each category of good cause269 exemption specified in subsections 5 and 6 of this section.27021. Each public school shall make available to the public the title and author of271 all reading curriculum materials adopted for each grade and the recommended reading272 level for such materials.[186.080. 1. The commissioner of education shall establish a literacy2advisory council. The council shall consist of no more than twenty members,3appointed by the commissioner, and shall include members representing the4following stakeholder groups:5(1) School boards;6(2) Charter schools;7(3) School superintendents;HB 2914 138(4) Elementary and secondary building principals;9(5) At least three teachers, including at least two teachers with10 expertise in reading instruction;11(6) At least two special education educators;12(7) At least two parents of elementary and secondary school-age13 pupils who have struggled with literacy proficiency;14(8) At least two community members who have struggled with literacy15 proficiency or supported others who have struggled with literacy proficiency,16 at least one of whom shall be a high school student;17(9) One member from a dyslexia advocacy group;18(10) Faculty members of institutions of higher education with19 approved teacher preparation programs;20(11) Professionals with expertise in reading instruction, reading21 interventions, and how students learn to read including one certified academic22 language therapist; and23(12) Professionals with expertise in educational assessment data24 analysis.252. The council shall meet at least twice per year to review best26 practices in literacy instruction and related policy provisions. The department27 shall provide necessary staff and resources for the work of the advisory28 council.293. The council shall periodically provide recommendations to the30 commissioner and the state board of education regarding any identified31 improvements to literacy instruction and policy for students. The32 recommendations may include recommendations for changes to state law,33 and the commissioner shall furnish any such recommendations to the joint34 committee on education.354. The council recommendations shall:36(1) Advise the department of elementary and secondary education on37 how to implement and maintain the statewide literacy plan required under38 section 161.241 and advise the department, school districts, and charter39 schools on ways to inform and engage parents and other community members40 about the literacy plan;41(2) Provide advice as to what services the department should provide42 to school districts and charter schools to support implementation of the plan43 and on staffing levels and resources needed at the department to support the44 statewide effort to improve literacy;45(3) Provide advice regarding the statewide plan for collecting literacy-46 related data that informs:47(a) Literacy instructional practices;48(b) Teacher professional development in the field of literacy;49(c) What proficiencies and skills should be measured through literacy50 assessments and how those assessments are incorporated into local assessment51 plans; and52(d) How to identify school progress in achieving literacy outcomes,53 including closing literacy gaps for students from historically underserved54 populations;HB 2914 1455(4) Recommend best practices for tiered literacy instruction within a56 multitiered system of supports to best improve and sustain literacy proficiency;57(5) Review literacy assessments and outcomes and provide ongoing58 advice as to how to continuously improve those outcomes and sustain59 improvement; and60(6) Provide a means for members of the public to provide input and61 ask questions concerning literacy issues.]✔
Creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to literacy of elementary school students
Sponsors
Rep. Ed Lewis (R) sponsors HB 2914 alone.
Committees
HB 2914 went before 1 committee: Emerging Issues.
History
HB 2914 has taken 3 actions since Jan 12, 2026, the latest on May 15, 2026.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
May 15, 2026 | House | Referred: Emerging Issues(H) | ||
Jan 13, 2026 | House | Read Second Time (H) | ||
Jan 12, 2026 | House | Introduced and Read First Time (H) |
Votes
HB 2914 has not gone to a roll call.
Source: house.mo.gov · legiscan.com