Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, through an executive order in 2001, created the Just Read, Florida! Office within the Florida Department of Education. The office is responsible for, among other things, training school reading coaches; improving reading instruction provided by regular classroom teachers; assisting school districts in creating and implementing K-12 reading instruction plans; and providing parents with information about how to assist their children in reading.[32] A new law in 2002 also mandated that all students get immediate remedial reading instruction if needed.[33] The program eventually led to the hiring of 2,000 reading coaches to provide assistance to schools.[34]
[32] “Just Read, Florida!,” (Florida Department of Education, 2005), http://goo.gl/JZgbT (accessed May 31, 2013); Fla. Stat. § 1001.215.
[33] Fla. Stat. § 1008.25(5)(a).
[34] “Just Read, Florida!: About Us,” (Florida Department of Education, 2013), http://goo.gl/fWd1M (accessed March 20, 2013).