§ 818. Evidence-based and scientifically based reading instruction. 1.
(a) On or before January first, two thousand twenty-five, the
commissioner shall provide school districts with the instructional best
practices for the teaching of reading to students in prekindergarten
through grade three. Instructional best practices for the teaching of
reading shall be evidence-based and scientifically based, focusing on
reading competency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics,
vocabulary development, reading fluency, comprehension, including
background knowledge, oral language and writing, oral skill development,
and align with the department's culturally responsive-sustaining
framework. Such instructional best practices shall be periodically
updated by the commissioner where appropriate.

(b) Every school district shall annually review their curriculum and
instructional practices in the subject of reading for students in
prekindergarten through grade three to ensure that they align with the
reading instructional best practices provided by the commissioner, and
that all early reading instructional practices and interventions are
part of an aligned plan designed to improve student reading outcomes in
prekindergarten through grade three.

2. For the purpose of this section, "evidence-based and scientifically
based", "phonemic awareness", "comprehension", "reading fluency",
"vocabulary development", "culturally responsive-sustaining framework",
and such other terms necessary to implement this section shall be as
defined by the commissioner in regulations.

3. On or before September first, two thousand twenty-five, every
school district shall verify to the commissioner that their curriculum
and instructional practices in the subject of reading in prekindergarten
through grade three align with all of the elements of the instructional
best practices provided by the commissioner pursuant to this section.