System of Priorities

The Department of Education shall establish a system of priorities designed to carry out the intent of the Legislature as stated in § 5A130 of this Chapter. The system shall be designed to give priority assistance to schools in the following order:

(1)First, those schools which, evidenced by the most recently available nationally based tests, have the greatest need for additional reading instruction.

(2)Second, those schools that participated in the program in the previous year, which continue to be eligible, so that they will not be required to reduce program below the level of the preceding year.

(3)Third, to those eligible school who apply for new programs in order of the percentage of their pupils who have reading difficulties.