<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 13A.03.08.05" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="08" heading="Screening Data and Supplemental Reading Instruction.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>For only the 2025—2026 school year, §§B—E of this regulation shall apply to the local school systems.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>If the results of screening conducted under Regulations .03 and .04 of this chapter indicate that a student is at risk of reading difficulties:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 30 calendar days of the screening, the local school system shall notify the parent or guardian of the student in writing of the screening results and a description of the supplemental reading instruction that will be provided to the student; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local school system shall develop a supplemental reading instructional plan to address the student’s identified areas of need.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The supplemental instruction shall take place within the school day.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Evidence-based supplemental instruction shall be based on data and aligned with the specific areas of deficit for students identified at risk.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The local school system may revise supplemental instruction based upon progress monitoring and the student’s placement in an appropriate multi-tiered system of supports.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Beginning in the 2026—2027 school year, §§G—K of this regulation shall apply to the local school systems.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>If the results of a screening conducted under Regulations .03 and .04 of this chapter indicate that a student is at risk of reading difficulties, the local school system shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Administer a diagnostic survey to determine the best targeted instruction;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Notify the parent or guardian of the student, consistent with  §H of this regulation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Subject to §K of this regulation, develop a Student Reading Improvement Plan to document the student’s identified areas of need and appropriate supplemental reading instruction, consistent with §§I and J of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Parent or Guardian Notification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 30 days of the screening, the local school system shall provide written notification to the parent or guardian that includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An explanation that their child has been identified as having difficulties in reading; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An invitation to collaborate on the development of a Student Reading Improvement Plan with the teacher, principal or designee, and/or other pertinent school personnel.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The notification must be provided in family-friendly language.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Student Reading Improvement Plan.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local school system shall develop a student reading improvement plan no later than 30 days after identifying a student at risk of reading difficulties.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The student reading improvement plan shall be created in partnership with the parent or guardian by the teacher, principal or designee, or other pertinent school personnel.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The student reading improvement plan shall be documented on a template that meets the requirements set by the Department to include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The evidence-based reading intervention program the student will receive to remedy the reading deficit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The necessary frequency and intensity of interventions to remediate the identified areas of need and accelerate learning; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A description of how the student will receive intensive reading intervention until the student no longer demonstrates difficulty in reading as determined by the LEA’s approved system of assessment.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The student reading improvement plan shall be reviewed and updated at least once annually with the parent or guardian of the student.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The local school system shall provide a copy of the student reading improvement plan to the parent or guardian.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Supplemental Instruction and Multi-Tiered System of Supports.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Each local school system shall develop a multi-tiered system of supports consistent with guidance issued by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The multi-tiered system of supports shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Program-specific progress monitoring system and tools to collect and analyze intervention data to make instructional decisions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Home partnerships with parents or guardians as an integral part of the decision-making team; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Supports that address a student’s identified needs with varying intensity and duration across the three tiers.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The supplemental instruction shall be provided within the local school system’s multi-tiered system of supports.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>In addition to Tier I instruction, supplemental instruction shall be provided through Tier II and Tier III interventions utilizing a reading program aligned with the science of reading.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>All students, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities, must be provided with access to all levels of tiered instruction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The supplemental instruction shall take place within the school day.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Students with an IEP.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a student has an IEP, the IEP team should review the results of the screening instrument and diagnostic survey to determine whether the student’s IEP will be updated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If an update is necessary, the IEP team shall incorporate the data and information that would have been used to develop a Student Reading Improvement Plan.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>This chapter may not delay or deny a student who may be suspected of having a disability from the appropriate evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>