THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1123
Pilot Program for Students with Reading Deficiencies
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to a pilot program for students with
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reading deficiencies; creating s. 1008.251, F.S.;
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creating the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion
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Pilot Program for a specified period of time;
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providing the purpose of the program; providing
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requirements for a student to be deemed at risk of
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having a reading deficiency; providing Department of
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Education and school district duties; requiring the
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department to provide a report to the Legislature upon
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completion of the pilot program; providing
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requirements for such report; providing for the future
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repeal of the program; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 1008.251, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1008.251 The First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot
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Program.—Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the First
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Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program is created for a
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period of 3 school years. The purpose of the program is to
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assist school districts in providing a summer reading immersion
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program for students who completed grade 1 and who are at risk
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of having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial
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deficiency in reading. For purposes of the pilot program, a
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student is deemed to be at risk of having a reading deficiency
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when he or she scores a level one on the midyear or third
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administration of the coordinated screening and progress
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monitoring under s. 1008.25.
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(1) The Department of Education shall:
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(a) Select two school districts to participate in the
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pilot program.
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(b) Create a first grade summer reading immersion program
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for school districts to implement each year of the pilot
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program. The program must:
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1. Be a minimum of 6 weeks in length.
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2. Focus on:
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a. Foundational grade 1 reading skills.
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b. Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and
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reading comprehension.
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3. Assess student learning gains and reading skills at the
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conclusion of the program using the first grade final
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administration of the coordinated screening and progress
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monitoring or a state-approved diagnostic assessment.
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(c) Establish reporting requirements for participating
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school districts.
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(2) Each participating school district shall:
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(a) Invite students who have completed grade 1 who are at
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risk of having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial
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deficiency in reading to attend the first grade summer reading
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immersion program.
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(b) Administer the first grade summer reading immersion
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program pursuant to department requirements and guidance.
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(c) Provide the data and information requested by the
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department.
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(d) Provide periodic updates to the department on the
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implementation of the first grade summer reading immersion
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program.
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(e) Upon completion of each first grade summer reading
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immersion program, provide a report on student learning gains
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and reading skills at the conclusion of the program, including
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participation rates.
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(3) Upon the completion of the pilot program, the
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department shall provide a report to the Legislature. The report
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must include all of the following:
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(a) Student outcomes for students who participated in the
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first grade summer reading immersion program.
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(b) Rates of student participation in the first grade
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summer reading immersion program.
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(c) Policy recommendations for further implementation of
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first grade summer reading immersion program.
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(4) This section shall expire upon the submission of the
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department's report to the Legislature pursuant to subsection
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(3).
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.