A. The R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables) Program, referred to in this Part as the “program”, is hereby established for the purpose of providing books and other reading materials to eligible students.

            B. A public school student who falls into one of the following categories is eligible to participate in the program:

            (1) The student is in prekindergarten and does not score satisfactorily on the literacy section of the Early Childhood Assessment administered by the state Department of Education.

            (2) The student is in kindergarten or the first, second, or third grade and reads below grade level according to the results of a literacy assessment.

            (3) The student is in the fourth or fifth grade and scored below mastery in English language arts on the state assessment administered the prior school year.

            (4) The student’s eligibility cannot be determined according to the measures provided in Paragraphs (1) through (3) of this Subsection due to the lack of literacy assessment or state assessment results, but the student is recommended by his English language arts teacher for participation in the program due to the student’s reading difficulties.

            C. The department shall administer and provide for the implementation of the program. In administering the program, the department shall:

            (1) Require public school governing authorities to establish a schedule for participating students to receive books for the schools under their jurisdiction. The schedule may constitute distribution of three books once per quarter.

            (2) Publish on its website information about the program.

            (3) Develop online support materials that may assist parents in developing their child’s literacy skills.

            (4) Develop a list of high-quality, age-appropriate books and other reading materials encompassing diverse subjects and genres for each grade level to be mailed to students in the program, ensuring the books and other reading materials exclude any material harmful to minors as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 14:91.11.

            (5) Support local implementation of the program by providing marketing materials to schools and school districts to assist with public awareness campaigns.

            (6) Report by October thirtieth annually on its website the number of students participating in the program from each school or school district.

            D. A student shall be excluded from the program upon the written request of his parent or legal guardian.

            E.(1) The provisions of this Section shall be implemented to the extent that the legislature appropriates funds for this purpose.

            (2) The department may make adjustments to the program as necessary due to the availability of funds.

            F. There is hereby established in the state treasury, as a special fund, the Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables Fund, hereafter referred to in this Section as the “R.E.A.D. Fund”. Monies appropriated or transferred to the R.E.A.D. Fund shall be deposited by the state treasurer after compliance with the requirements of La. Const. Art. VII, § 9(B) relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. Monies in the R.E.A.D. Fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the R.E.A.D. Fund shall be deposited in and credited to the R.E.A.D. Fund. Subject to appropriation, the state Department of Education shall use monies from the fund for administration and implementation of the R.E.A.D. Program.

            Acts 2022, No. 395, §1; Acts 2023, No. 410, §3, eff. June 15, 2023.