Bill > HB2257

This bill requires the Tennessee State Board of Education to create a special endorsement for educators, called a "qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement," which will allow them to provide specialized help to students who show signs of dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading. To get this endorsement, educators must hold a specific credential, the Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) credential, issued by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) in partnership with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and may need to meet other requirements set by the state board, such as taking extra classes or passing a test. Importantly, this bill clarifies that educators who don't have this specific endorsement can still help students with dyslexia if they are already qualified to do so. This new endorsement is intended to ensure that educators are properly trained to support students with dyslexia, and the law will take effect on July 1, 2026.