THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATF 
S. 5. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Constitut?on, Article 14, Section 1 provides: 
Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality to quality education at all levels and shall tale appropriate steps to make 
such education accessible to all. 
Reading is a fundamental skill for learning. Students who are not reading at grade-level 
are very unliltely to graduate froin high school, while those who do are likely to succeed in life 
Parents are the best first teachers. Parents can help increase their children's reading 
levels, for example, by reading with their child thirty minutes a day. Evidence shows that greater 
parental support of children's literacy success makes a significant difference. One-on-one 
tutoring is a key component of bringing students up to reading at grade-level. 
Family involvement is widely recognized to improve student performance. Preparing 
children to learn, through parent involvement, plays a crucial role in preventing students from 
falling behind. 
With proper support and teaching, all children can learn to read at grade-level by the end 
The purpose of this bill is to support effective programs, that provide 
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o€ the third grade. 
assistance to parents who want to help their children become successful readers. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
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SENATE 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO 
PARENTS WHO WANT TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN BECOME 
SUCCESSFUL READERS 
Be it enacted &y the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippirzes in Congress 
osseinbled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This subsection shall be known as the ‘Parents as First 
Teachers Challenge Grant Act.’ 
SECTION 2. Purpose.- The purpose of this subtitle is to support effective and proven 
efforts that provide assistance to parents W~IO want to help their children become successful 
readers by the end of the 3rd grade. 
SECTION 3. DeJinition ofTerrns. -For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
(1) “Eligible child” means an individual eligible to attend preschool,,~~indergarten, 
or lSt, 
2d, or Yd grade. 
(2) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education. 
SECTION 4. Grantsfor national or regional networks - The Secretary is authorized to 
award at least two (2) grants to non-profit community groups or organizations, or consortia 
thereof per region, to enable such agencies, groups, organizations, or consortia to create 
successful programs or activities that help a parent - 
(1) be a good teacher to the parent’s eligible child; and 


(2) assist the parent’s eligible child in attaining reading sltills while assisting the eligible 
child to learn to read. 
SECTION 5. Recipient criteria - 
(a) GRANTS FOR NATIONAL OR REGIONAL NETWORKS - In order to receive a 
grant under section 4, a group, organization, or consortium shall establish a training institute and 
comprehensive counseling program, where such group, organization or consortium will work 
with parents to improve their eligible children’s reading. 
SECTION 6. Applications 
(a) 
IN GENERAL- Each entity desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information 
as the Secretary may Ilequire. 
(b) APPLICA/TIONS FOR GRANTS FOR NATIONAL OR REGIONAL NETWORKS- 
i 
Each application submitted for a grant under section 4 shall- 
(1) demonstrate the likelihood that the proposed program or activity will have a 
substantial regional or national impact; 
(2) demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed program or activity; and 
(3) describe how the proposed activity will be coordinated with private sector 
programs and activities, and government programs and activities that provide support for 
parents of eligible children. 
(c) 
APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS OR 
ACTIVITiES- Each aplication submitted under subsection (a) for a grant under section 4(b) 
shall- 
(1) describe a program or activity that is capable of successful expansion or 
replication; 
(2) contain evidence of community support for the proposed proyani or activiiy 
from the private sector, a school, and another entity; 


(3) contain information demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of the proposed program or 
activity; and 
(4) provide an assurance that the applicant will coordinate the proposed program or 
activity with government programs and activities that provide support for parents of eligible 
children. 
SECTION I .  Authorization ofappropriations - 
(a) APPROPRIATIONS - There are appropriated to carry out this subtitle P25,000,000 
for each fiscal year. 
! 
(b) ENTITLEMENT - Subject to subsection (a), each entity receiving a grant under this 
title for a fiscal year shall be entitled to payments for such a year under the grant. 
SECTION 8. Separmbility Clause.- if any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the iemainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remaiii 
valid aid subsisting. 
SECTION 9. I Repealing Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instrubtion, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly, 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved 
Fn: 1454