Bill > HB2616

This bill mandates that Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which are public school districts, must screen all students in kindergarten through second grade (K-2) for characteristics of dyslexia three times per year using a program provided by the state's department of education. This screening will be integrated into the LEA's existing Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) framework, a system designed to identify students needing extra help or enrichment and provide them with appropriate support. The screening tool will specifically assess a student's ability in phonological awareness, decoding, sight word reading, and accurate word reading. If a student shows signs of dyslexia, the LEA must inform the parent or guardian, provide them with information and resources, offer specialized, multisensory dyslexia-specific interventions through the RTI² framework, and monitor the student's progress. The department of education will also provide professional development for educators on identifying and intervening with students who have dyslexia, and the state board of education will establish criteria for identifying students with learning disabilities. Additionally, the bill creates a dyslexia advisory council composed of eight members, including the commissioner of education, an education specialist, a representative from a dyslexia advocacy group, teachers from different grade levels, and a parent of a child with dyslexia, to advise the department on dyslexia-related matters and report annually to legislative committees on screening and intervention data.