Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), the plan required by this chapter must include the following:

(1) Reading skill standards for grade 1 through grade 3.

(2) An emphasis on a method for making determinant evaluations by grade 3 that might require remedial action for the student, including retention as a last resort, after other methods of remediation have been evaluated or used, or both, if reading skills are below the standard. Appropriate consultation with parents or guardians must be part of the plan.

(3) Requirements for a public school maintained by a school corporation in which fewer than seventy percent (70%) of students of the school achieved a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board. The requirements for the public schools described in this subdivision must include the following:

(A) Use of curriculum that is:

(i) based on the science of reading; and

(ii) approved by the department.

(B) Employment of an instructional coach trained in the science of reading.

(C) Administration of the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board to students in grade 2.

(D) Use of only benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessments that:

(i) show alignment with Indiana’s academic standards; and

(ii) are approved by the department.

(4) The fiscal impact of each component of the plan, if any. In determining whether a component has a fiscal impact, consideration shall be given to whether the component will increase costs to the state or a school corporation or require the state or school corporation to reallocate resources.

     (b) For a charter school, as defined in IC 20-24-1-4, a plan may include only the following:

(1) A method for making determinant evaluations of reading skills by grade 3.

(2) Retention as a last resort for students reading below grade level as measured by the evaluation or assessment.

     (c) This subsection applies to a public school that is not a charter school. A school corporation may receive a waiver of the requirements provided in 511 IAC 6.2-3.1-4(a)(2) if the state board approves an alternative reading plan provided by the school corporation.

As added by P.L.109-2010, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.160-2012, SEC.53; P.L.245-2023, SEC.11.