1998 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 507 – Teachers, elementary, phonics

HOUSE BILL NO. 507

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0507..........................................................by EDUCATION
TEACHERS - PHONICS - Adds to existing law to require applicants for an
elementary teaching certificate to have completed at least 3 semester
credits in intensive-systematic use of phonics for reading instruction and
to provide a definition of "intensive-systematic phonics."

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

Bill Text


H0507


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

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 507

                                  BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO TEACHERS; AMENDING CHAPTER 12, TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, BY THE  ADDI-
 3        TION  OF  A NEW SECTION 33-1202A, IDAHO CODE, TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR AN
 4        ELEMENTARY TEACHING CERTIFICATE TO HAVE COMPLETED THREE  SEMESTER  CREDITS
 5        OF  INTENSIVE-SYSTEMATIC  PHONICS  FOR  READING  INSTRUCTION AND TO DEFINE
 6        "INTENSIVE-SYSTEMATIC PHONICS".

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

 8        SECTION 1.  That Chapter 12, 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 33-1202A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

11        33-1202A.  REQUIRED CREDITS FOR  ELEMENTARY  CERTIFICATE  --  PHONICS  FOR
12    READING  INSTRUCTION -- DEFINITION. (1)  Effective January 1, 1999, all appli-
13    cants for an Idaho elementary teaching certificate  shall  complete  at  least
14    three  (3)  semester  credits  in  the intensive-systematic use of phonics for
15    reading instruction. The course shall provide instruction and opportunity  for
16    the  preservice  teacher  to  demonstrate the teaching of intensive-systematic
17    phonics to children in the elementary grades.  Applicants  graduating  from  a
18    state-approved  teacher  education  program  in Idaho shall complete three (3)
19    semester credits in  the  use  of  intensive-systematic  phonics  for  reading
20    instruction as part of the undergraduate teacher education program. Applicants
21    completing  an  approved  teacher  education program in another state shall be
22    required to complete at least  three  (3)  semester  credits  in  the  use  of
23    intensive-systematic  phonics for reading instruction within one (1) year from
24    the issuance of an Idaho certificate.
25        (2)  "Intensive-systematic phonics" means the process of teaching all  the
26    specific  sounds  of each letter of the alphabet in a rigorous, repeated, con-
27    sistent manner, and includes instruction on how each  sound  is  made  in  the
28    mouth and the sounds associated with each letter or combination of letters.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


    





                          S TATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                RS07511C2
    
    New Section Idaho Code 33-1202A. Relating to requiring three  
    semesters credit in the use of intensive-systematic phonics for  
    all applicants for Idaho elementary-teaching certification.
    
    Teacher education courses in Idaho higher education institutions  
    do not offer opportunities for prospective teachers to learn to  
    teach reading with phonics as an intensive-systematic approach.  
    As a result, many beginning teachers are not adequately prepared  
    to teach the sound/symbol relationship of the English language.  
    Including phonics as a component of reading instruction will  
    result in a savings of taxpayer dollars used to remediate public  
    school students.
    
    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. 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.
    
    The bill also requires teachers coming from another state to  
    complete at least three semester credits in intensive systematic  
    phonics within one year of issuance of their Idaho certificate.
    
                               FISCAL NOTE
    
    This course could replace an elective or an existing course and  
    not cause any fiscal impact.
    
    CONTACT: Jerry R. Pelton
             State Department of Education
             208-332-6853
    
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE
    
    Bill No. H 507