Act 139 (16 V.S.A. § 2907) marks the state’s most comprehensive literacy legislation to date and represents an important opportunity for Vermont students and educators. Act 139 recognizes that the most effective literacy practices in the early grades are explicit and systematic instruction on code-based and comprehension-based reading skills and needs-based support. The legislation aims to increase literacy achievement for all students by focusing on early identification for students struggling with reading, student supports, strengthening educator preparation programs, and ensuring parents and guardians are informed of their child's progress.
Learn more in this Act 139 Overview Slide Deck.
Screening Notification for Parents and Guardians
The Act requires that schools notify parents or guardians when a student’s performance on a reading screener is “significantly below relevant benchmarks as determined by the screener’s guidelines for age-level or grade-level typical development in specific literacy skills.” Schools are also required to notify parents or guardians about “the school’s response” to the screening results. The AOE issued “Requirements and Recommendations on Screening Notification for Parents and Guardians” to provide requirements and recommendations on parent and guardian notifications to Vermont Supervisory Districts and Supervisory Unions in accordance with Section 3 of Act 139.
Additional Resources
- Stand alone parent and guardian letter template
- By mid-December the template letter will be translated into the most frequently spoken languages in Vermont schools.
- A recorded webinar about screening will be available for parents and caregivers by the end of November.
- Nov. 7, 2024, 3:30- 4:30 p.m.: Question and Answer session about screening and notification that will spotlight experiences from Vermont leaders on screening and parent and guardian notification.
Act 139 Frequently Asked Questions about Screening and Notification
Act 139 Frequently Asked Questions About Screening and Notification provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about parent and guardian notification required in Act 139 (16 V.S.A. § 2907).
Release of Additional Guidance
On or before Jan. 15, 2025, the AOE will review and publish guidance on universal reading screeners as required in Act 139. The guidance will review screeners for their technical adequacy, attention to linguistic diversity, administrative usability, and valid measures of the developmental skills in early literacy, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Available Technical Assistance
The Agency is working committed to supporting education leaders and educators as they implement screeners and issue parent and guardian notifications. Please see the Professional Learning section of this website to register upcoming professional learning workshops.