KRS 158.794: Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant Steering Committee --

Membership -- Duties.

(1) The Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant Steering Committee is hereby

created for the purpose of advising the Kentucky Board of Education and the

Department of Education concerning the implementation and administration of

universal screeners, reading diagnostic assessments, and a statewide

professional development program for early literacy. The committee shall be

composed of fourteen (14) members, including the commissioner of education

or the commissioner's designee and the following members, to be appointed by

the Governor:

(a) Four (4) elementary school teachers with a specialty or background in

reading and literacy or reading intervention;

(b) One (1) elementary school parent;

(c) One (1) elementary school principal;

(d) One (1) elementary special education teacher;

(e) One (1) postsecondary educator who trains and prepares elementary

reading teachers;

(f) One (1) speech-language pathologist;

(g) One (1) elementary librarian or certified media specialist;

(h) One (1) elementary reading intervention teacher;

(i) One (1) teacher with experience assisting children who are deaf or

hearing-impaired; and

(j) One (1) private sector member with reading intervention experience.

(2) Each member of the committee, other than the commissioner of education or

the commissioner's designee, shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until a

successor is appointed, except that upon initial appointment, five (5) members

shall serve a one (1) year term, four (4) members shall serve a two (2) year

term, and four (4) members shall serve a three (3) year term.

(3) A majority of the full authorized membership shall constitute a quorum.

(4) The committee shall elect, by majority vote, a chair, who shall be the presiding

officer of the committee, preside at all meetings, and coordinate the functions

and activities of the committee. The chair shall be elected or reelected each

calendar year.

(5) The committee shall be attached to the Department of Education for

administrative purposes.

(6) The committee shall:

(a) Identify needs, trends, and issues in schools throughout the state

regarding reading and literacy programs;

(b) Make recommendations regarding the content of administrative

regulations to be promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Education under

KRS 158.792;

(c) Advise the Kentucky Board of Education and the Department of

Education regarding costs and effectiveness of various reading

intervention programs; and

(d) Advise the Department of Education on:

1. Suggested universal screeners for reading to be administered to

students in kindergarten through grade three (3) as required by KRS

158.791;

2. Suggested criteria for reading diagnostic assessments to be

administered to students in kindergarten through grade three (3) as

required by KRS 158.791; and

3. The development, implementation, and outcomes of a statewide

professional development program to include early literacy skills

instruction and student engagement.