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HOUSE BILL NO. 508

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Daily Data Tracking History

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H0508..........................................................by EDUCATION
STUDENTS - PHONICS - Adds to existing law to require instruction in
intensive-systematic phonics for all public school students in kindergarten
through third grade.

01/26    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/27    Rpt prt - to Educ

Bill Text

H0508


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fourth Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 1998
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 508

                                  BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AMENDING CHAPTER 16,
 3        TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF  A  NEW  SECTION  33-1613,  IDAHO
 4        CODE,  TO  PROVIDE FOR INSTRUCTION IN INTENSIVE-SYSTEMATIC PHONICS FOR ALL
 5        STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD  GRADE  AND  TO  DEFINE  INTENSIVE-
 6        SYSTEMATIC PHONICS.

 7    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 8        SECTION  1.  That  Chapter  16,  Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
 9    hereby amended by the addition thereto of a  NEW SECTION  ,  to  be
10    known and designated as Section 33-1613, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

11        33-1613.  INTENSIVE-SYSTEMATIC PHONICS INSTRUCTION. (1)  All public school
12    students  in  kindergarten  and  first grade shall receive at least forty-five
13    (45)  minutes  of  intensive-systematic  phonics  instruction  each  day.  The
14    instructional time may be divided into smaller segments of time throughout the
15    day. Intensive-systematic phonics instruction shall be integrated  with  read-
16    ing,  writing, vocabulary and spelling. All students who master this knowledge
17    may be moved on to advanced work.
18        (2)  Intensive-systematic phonics  shall  be  provided  for  all  students
19    through the third grade.
20        (3)  Any  child  who is identified by the individualized education program
21    team to have special learning  problems,  including  hearing  impaired,  shall
22    receive instruction which meets the needs of that child.
23        (4)  "Intensive-systematic  phonics" means the process of teaching all the
24    specific sounds of each letter of the alphabet in a rigorous,  repeated,  con-
25    sistent  manner,  and  includes  instruction  on how each sound is made in the
26    mouth and the sounds associated with each letter or combination of letters.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact

    





                           STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                RS 07512C3
    
    New Section Idaho Code 33-1613 - Requiring that intensive 
    systematic phonics be offered for all students in kindergarten 
    through the third grade and that at least 45 minutes of 
    intensive-systematic phonics be taught each day to kindergarten 
    and first-grade students.
    
    The purpose of this legislation is to improve the reading ability 
    of all students. Research shows that students who receive phonics 
    instruction along with building sight vocabulary, context clues, 
    syllabication phonics, and understanding the roots and meaning of 
    words, will increase their chances of becoming good readers. 
    Intensive-systematic phonics is the process of teaching all the 
    specific sounds of each letter of the alphabet. These sounds are 
    taught showing where they are made in the mouth as well as the 
    variations. For example - The a has five sounds. The variations 
    are produced when one letter is influenced by another letter. This 
    instructional process allows for the learner to practice learning 
    the sounds and the rules that work with the sounds. Intensive 
    means that repeated-consistent "systematic instruction" will allow 
    the child to grasp the decoding skills in a logical sequential 
    manner.
    
    Requiring 45 minutes of phonics instruction each day, integrated 
    with reading, vocabulary, and spelling, for kindergarten and 
    first-grade students who have not mastered the sound/symbol 
    relationship will help ensure that all students develop good 
    reading skills. The 45 minutes can be broken up into smaller 
    pieces. Students who demonstrate knowledge of the sound/symbol 
    relationship may move on to more advanced work. Any child who has 
    hearing problems will be helped according to his/her need.
    
    FISCAL NOTE There should be no fiscal 
    impact from the State General Account dollars. Kindergarten and 
    first-grade teachers may have to adjust the instruction that they 
    provide. If the children receive good instructions in the beginning, 
    then this step will save thousands of dollars in remediation. Any 
    Reading money made available by the legislature would help teachers 
    implement the phonics instruction. Local school districts 
    professional development monies might also be used to help train 
    teachers and implement phonics instruction.
    
    CONTACT: Jerry R. Pelton, State Department of Education
    
               208-332-6853
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE             Bill No. H 508