Bill > HB4406

This bill mandates that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, all school districts in Illinois must screen students in kindergarten through second grade for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener, which is a brief assessment to identify students potentially at risk for learning difficulties. If a student is identified as being at risk or at some risk for dyslexia, they will undergo a Level I dyslexia screening, a more in-depth process to determine if they exhibit characteristics of dyslexia, which is defined as a neurobiological learning disability affecting word recognition, spelling, and decoding. If screening indicates risk factors or characteristics of dyslexia, schools must implement a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework, a structured approach to providing targeted interventions. The State Board of Education will provide technical assistance to school districts for these screenings and interventions, and will also update a handbook with guidance on identifying dyslexia, educational strategies, and available resources. The bill also requires school districts to notify parents of screening results, provide them with information about dyslexia, and offer dyslexia intervention services if needed, with districts needing to report data on screening and intervention to the State Board of Education annually.