It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "Education" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

16-11.3-1. Panel Established. -- The Department of Education shall convene an Early Reading Success Panel composed of elementary school teachers, school administrators, national experts in the field of reading research and early childhood and higher education experts knowledgeable in the field of reading research. The panel shall review research on how reading is learned and on the knowledge and skills necessary for teachers to deliver effective reading instruction by July 1, 2001.

16-11.3-2. Reading Success Institute. -- The State Department of Education shall develop, within available appropriations, a State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute for educators based on the review completed by the Early Reading Success Panel pursuant to section 16-11.3-1 of the chapter.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.