HB 704: Public schools; mathematics and reading in kindergarten through grade eight, certain initiatives.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Public schools; mathematics and reading in kindergarten through grade eight; certain initiatives. Establishes several requirements relating to mathematics and reading proficiency in kindergarten through grade eight, including (i) requiring the Department of Education to establish and administer the math teacher and specialist corps to provide grants on a competitive basis to school divisions in which the mathematics proficiency of students in kindergarten through grade eight indicates a high need for intervention and improvement in order for such school divisions to offer annual stipends to effective educators with endorsements in mathematics or as mathematics specialists and deploy such individuals to the schools with the highest need; (ii) requiring each student in kindergarten through grade three to participate in a mathematics screener approved by the Department and requiring any student whose results on such screener indicate the need for further assessment to participate in a diagnostic mathematics assessment approved by the Department and to receive a mathematics improvement plan if the results on such assessment indicate the need for accelerated interventions to progress toward proficient performance in mathematics; and (iii) prohibiting any student in grade three who receives reading intervention services and whose performance on the statewide literacy screener or the grade-level reading Standards of Learning assessment at the end of the school year demonstrates substantial deficiencies from being promoted to grade four except in certain enumerated cases.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 25

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 18, 2026Left in Education
2. February 3, 2026Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)
3. February 3, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB704)
4. February 2, 2026Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
5. January 13, 2026Referred to Committee on Education
6. January 13, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103662D