SF4045

Purpose

• Update the Read Act to require ongoing curriculum review and give districts a path to request adding specific curricula or professional development programs to the approved list.

Main Provisions

• Districts can request the department to add a specific curriculum or professional development program to the approved list.
• The department must publish the reconsideration procedures on its website.
• A request for review must show the curriculum meets Read Act requirements and includes evidence-based practices and structured literacy components.
• The review uses the existing approval rubric but adds culturally responsive criteria set by the department.
• Alternative curricula or intervention programs for students who cannot access sound-based approaches must be reviewed on the same cycle as traditional programs.
• CAREI and the department must conduct a final curriculum review of previously submitted curricula by March 3, 2025 for curricula already available to districts at no cost.
• After March 3, 2025, districts or curriculum publishers can again request adding a curriculum, but they must pay the department for the review.

Review Process and Timeline

• The department must publish the reconsideration process.
• Reviews must use the standard rubric plus culturally responsive criteria.
• A final review for no-cost curricula is due by March 3, 2025.
• After March 3, 2025, payment is required for new curriculum reviews.

Financial Provisions

• For reviews after March 3, 2025, districts or curriculum publishers pay the department.
• The fee cannot exceed actual review costs or $3,500, whichever is less.

Significance and Potential Impacts

• Introduces an ongoing, formal loop to evaluate and add curricula beyond initial approval.
• Requires inclusion of culturally responsive criteria in assessments.
• Emphasizes evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and provides a pathway for alternatives for those unable to access sound-based methods.
• Establishes cost-sharing for future curriculum reviews and sets a maximum fee.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds an ongoing, formal curriculum review process to the Read Act.
• Incorporates culturally responsive criteria into curriculum reviews.
• Extends review obligations to alternative, non-sound-based approaches on the same cycle as traditional curricula.
• Creates a deadline-driven, final review of no-cost curricula and introduces a post-deadline fee-for-review model.

Relevant Terms - Read Act - evidence-based - structured literacy components - culturally responsive criteria - alternative curriculum - intervention programs - sound-based approaches - CAREI - department - districts - curriculum publishers - review rubric - final curriculum review - no cost curriculum - reconsideration procedure - fee cap - actual review costs - March 3, 2025