The purpose of this rule development is to update and align the criteria for reading intervention placement with Sections 1003.4156(5)(b) and 1003.428(2)(b), (l), Florida Statutes, which provide an exemption from reading intervention for middle and high school students who score at Level 1 or Level 2 on FCAT Reading but who did not score below Level 3 in the previous 3 years. Such a student may be granted a 1-year exemption from the reading remediation requirement; however, the student must have an approved academic improvement plan already in place, signed by the appropriate school staff and the student's parent, for the year for which the exemption is granted. The Academic Improvement Plan for students that receive an exemption must include specific actions that schools, students, and parents will take, in lieu of student enrollment in reading intervention, to improve achievement in reading. This change recognizes that certain students with a history of high performance on the FCAT in Reading scoring Level 1 or 2 on FCAT Reading and/or proficiency on other state assessments may benefit most from instruction outside of reading intervention.