§ 20-28-5-19.7 — Literacy endorsement; review of licensure; endorsement requirements; procedure and rules

Indiana § 20-28-5-19.7

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 20: EDUCATION
• Art. 28: SCHOOL TEACHERS
• Ch. 5: Licenses

Text

7. (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the state
board shall establish and require a literacy endorsement for individuals
first licensed after June 30, 2025, to teach a content area involving
literacy instruction, including special education, in prekindergarten
through grade 5.
(b) Except as provided in section 19.8 of this chapter, beginning
July 1, 2027, the department may not renew a practitioner license or an
accomplished practitioner license, or a comparable license under prior
rules, issued to an individual who, based on the content area for which
the individual is licensed, including special education, provides literacy
instruction to students in prekindergarten through grade 5 unless the
individual receives a literacy endorsement under this section.
(c) To be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement, an individual
must meet the following:
(1) Complete eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional
development that is:
(A) aligned to the science of reading;
(B) provided by an organization that is:
(i) accredited by the International Dyslexia Association; or
(ii) aligned with Knowledge and Practice Standards for
Teachers of Reading (KPS) as determined by the department;
or
(C) approved by the department.
(2) Demonstrate proficiency in scientifically based reading
instruction skills aligned to the science of reading on a written
examination or through other procedures prescribed by the
department in accordance with this section.
(d) The eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional
development required under subsection (c)(1) must provide
individualized and on demand support. The evidence based
professional development required under subsection (c)(1) must:
(1) promote explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction as the
primary approach to literacy instruction;
(2) align with both word recognition and language
comprehension;
(3) promote an understanding of how language, reading, and
writing relate to each other;
(4) promote strategies for differentiated instruction for:
(A) students with:
(i) reading difficulties; or
(ii) disabilities; and
(B) English language learners;
(5) focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,
and comprehension; and
(6) allow participants to implement the strategies into a classroom
environment with the opportunity for feedback throughout the
professional development experience.
(e) The written examination required under subsection (c)(2) shall
ensure the individual demonstrates the ability to:
(1) effectively teach foundational reading skills, phonemic
awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;
(2) implement reading instruction using high quality instructional
materials aligned to the science of reading; and
(3) provide effective instruction and interventions for students
with reading deficiencies.
(f) The department shall approve and provide the evidence based
professional development necessary for an individual to receive a
literacy endorsement under this section.
(g) The department shall establish the procedure for an existing
teacher to add the literacy endorsement established under this section
to the teacher's license.
(h) The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the
following:
(1) Adopt, validate, and implement the examination or other
procedures required by subsection (c)(2).
(2) Establish examination scores indicating proficiency.
(3) Otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.243-2023, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.5-2024, SEC.5; P.L.150-2024, SEC.23; P.L.1-2025, SEC.191.