FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kellyn Harrison, Press Secretary
Kellyn.Harrison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
STATEHOUSE (Feb. 1, 2024) — Three bills authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would improve students' literacy skills and address cellphone use in the classroom passed the Senate this week.
Senate Bill 6 would help improve literacy skills in Hoosier students by requiring the Indiana Department of Education to develop a method for schools to support and identify students in fourth through eighth grade who are at risk of not being proficient at reading.
"Ensuring students can read is the most important thing Indiana's education system can do so students can have successful futures, yet nearly 1 in 5 Hoosier third graders lack basic reading skills," Raatz said. "This bill serves to get students who moved on from third grade and are in need of support back on track with their peers."
SB 6 would work in tandem with Senate Bill 1, which is a Senate Republican priority bill. SB 1 would ensure Hoosier students get the best literacy education by providing Science of Reading instruction, committing to early detection and remediation for students not reading at grade level, and as a last resort, retaining those students who are not reading well enough to move on to fourth grade.
Where SB 1 would improve literacy instruction for students approaching and in third grade, SB 6 would identify and support students who have already moved on from third grade.
To ensure students are paying attention to lessons in the classroom, Raatz also authored Senate Bill 185, which would require each Indiana school to implement a cellular device policy that appropriately limits the use of these devices in the classroom.
"Cellular devices can be distracting for anyone, especially students learning fundamental skills in the classroom," Raatz said. "Senate Bill 185 would ensure our students are paying attention to lessons being taught in the classroom instead of their phones."
Senate bills 1, 6 and 185 will now move to the Indiana House of Representatives for further consideration.
Committee hearings, legislative calendars, agendas, vote tallies and proposed legislation can be viewed online by visiting iga.in.gov.
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
