HARRISBURG – This week, Sen. Tracy Pennycuick of Montgomery and Berks counties introduced legislation to establish the Keystone Literacy Investment Act to provide upfront funding for early literacy implementation without requiring a new recurring General Fund appropriation. Recently, the General Assembly enacted major early literacy reforms requiring schools to transition to evidence-based reading instruction and screening practices. These reforms will improve student literacy outcomes, however, it leaves school districts to face significant one-time transition costs.
This legislation will:
- Authorize the sale of deferred insurance premium tax credits to raise funds for early literacy implementation.
- Deposit proceeds into a restricted Early Literacy Implementation Fund.
- Delay the use of the tax credits until a future year and cap the amount that may be claimed annually.
- Limit the total amount of credits that may be issued.
- Provide funding only for literacy implementation costs such as curriculum, screening tools, intervention programs, and educator training.
- Include a sunset provision once the credits are exhausted.
The measure helps school districts provide this crucial instruction to students without placing additional strain on the Commonwealth’s General Fund. This legislation will be a companion bill to Representative Ortitay’s HB 2541.
5 year old girl looking for a book at the library