In 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was signed into law. Any student in kindergarten through 3rd grade with an identified reading deficiency would be required to have a Student Reading Improvement Plan (SRIP). A reading deficiency is determined by a consistent deficiency in any of the following areas: letter naming fluency, letter-sound fluency, nonsense word fluency, sight words, oral reading accuracy and fluency, vocabulary for comprehension.
Other requirements of the law include:
Assessment of early literacy skills three times during the school year
Parental notification within 15 days of identification of a reading deficiency
Individualized supplemental reading intervention
Strategies and resources for parents to use at home
Summer reading camp
Once a deficiency is identified, teachers are required to notify parents. A diagnostic assessment is given to the child, and based on specific needs, teachers will provide intensive reading instruction and interventions for that child. The specific instruction and targeted interventions will be documented in a Student Reading Improvement Plan (SRIP).