1. A. An application shall:

   1. (1) Identify whether the qualifying school will work in collaboration with a nonprofit organization or the local board of education to implement the literacy program;
   2. (2) Provide the name and qualifications of the nonprofit organization, if the qualifying school will work in collaboration with a nonprofit organization; and

   3. (3) Include a description of:

      1. (a) The literacy program to be implemented at the qualifying school;
      2. (b) The training that will be provided to the interventionist to provide the services in this section;
      3. (c) How the literacy program will meet the grant requirements in this section; and
      4. (d) Any other information required by the Department.

2. B. A literacy program developed under the Initiative shall:

   1. (1) Provide early literacy intervention services for participating students;
   2. (2) Require participating students to receive direct services at least twice a week;
   3. (3) Have clear literacy targets at each grade level for participating students;
   4. (4) Have benchmark assessments multiple times a year to identify students who need one-on-one interventions;
   5. (5) Collect data on student progress at least monthly;
   6. (6) Be implemented by staff hired and supervised by the collaborating nonprofit organization or the local board of education; and

   7. (7) Use literacy programs that utilize various evidence-based approaches and methodologies for:

      1. (a) Comparison purposes; and
      2. (b) The collection of multiple data points for long-term review.

Authority: Education Article, §§2-205 and 5-216, Annotated Code of Maryland;
Ch. 361, Acts of 2018

Effective date: December 31, 2018 (45:26 Md. R. 1249)