(1) The New Worlds Tutoring Program is created to support school districts and schools in improving student achievement in reading and mathematics by:(a) Providing best practice science of reading guidelines for districts in consultation with the Just Read, Florida! Office.
(b) Providing best practice guidelines for mathematics tutoring in alignment with Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for mathematics.
(c) Establishing minimum standards that each school district must meet to participate in the program. The minimum standards must address:1. Appropriate group sizes for tutoring sessions.
2. The frequency and duration of tutoring sessions.
3. Minimum staffing qualifications for tutors.
4. The use of ongoing, informal and formal assessments to target instructional interventions.
5. Prioritization strategies for tutoring students.
(d) Providing access during the school day to additional literacy or mathematics support through evidence-based automated literacy tutoring software that provides each student with real-time interventions that are based in science of reading principles or mathematics instructional best practices and individually tailored to the needs and ability of each student. Access shall be provided to students in kindergarten through grade 5 enrolled in a public school who have a substantial deficiency in reading or mathematics in accordance with s. 1008.25. The term “evidence-based” has the same meaning as in s. 1003.4201(6). (e) Awarding grants to school districts that may be used for stipends for in-person tutoring during the school day, before and after school, or during a summer program. In-person tutoring may be provided to, at a minimum, kindergarten through grade 5 students enrolled in a public school who have a substantial deficiency in reading or mathematics in accordance with s. 1008.25. To identify eligible students, the department shall provide the administrator with mathematics and reading progress monitoring data for eligible kindergarten through grade 12 students within 30 days after the close of each progress monitoring period. (f) Providing technical assistance and professional learning to school districts, including:1. Advising district staff on tutoring program design and intervention selection upon request.
2. Assisting districts in reviewing tutoring programs, professional learning programs, curriculum, and resources to ensure that they adhere to the science of reading or best practices in mathematics.
3. Providing professional learning to district staff to build their knowledge and skills around the science of reading or best practices in mathematics.
(2) Annually, by July 1, the administrator of the New Worlds Tutoring Program shall provide to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Commissioner of Education a report summarizing school district use of program funds and student academic outcomes as a result of the additional literacy or mathematics support provided under this section.
