(1) The general assembly finds and declares that: A literate society is essential to maintaining a free society;
(2) There is a need to improve literacy rates across the state;
(3) In 2019, Tennessee's third grade English language arts proficiency rate was thirty-six and nine-tenths percent (36.9%);
(4) In 2019, Tennessee's eighth grade English language arts proficiency rate was twenty-seven and one-tenth percent (27.1%); and
(5) In 2019, Tennessee ranked thirty-first in the nation in fourth grade reading proficiency and thirtieth in eighth grade reading proficiency.
(6) It is the policy of this state that LEAs and the department of education move toward the goal of every public school student being able to read at an appropriate level before being promoted beyond the third grade.