SF 2319 (LSB 5570SV (10) 85)

RELATING TO IMPROVING STUDENT LITERACY SKILLS, INCLUDING ADDRESSING DYSLEXIA, AND PROVIDING TEACHER ASSISTANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, subsection 53, paragraph c, subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (e), Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   (e)  Professional development strategies and materials to support teacher effectiveness in student literacy development.  Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly, the center shall collaborate and coordinate with the area education agencies and the department to develop and offer to school districts at no cost professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in the use of evidence-based strategies to improve the literacy skills of all students.
    Sec. 2.  Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph d, subparagraph (3), subparagraph division (a), Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   (a)  Assists students assessed as exhibiting a substantial deficiency in reading to develop the skills to read at grade level.  Assistance shall include but not be limited to strategies that formally address dyslexia, when appropriate. For purposes of this subparagraph division (a), “dyslexia” means a specific and significant impairment in the development of reading, including but not limited to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, that is not 

solely accounted for by intellectual disability, sensory disability or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction.

______________________________
PAM JOCHUM

President of the Senate

______________________________
KRAIG PAULSEN

Speaker of the House

   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and is known as Senate File 2319, Eighty-fifth General Assembly.

______________________________
MICHAEL E. MARSHALL

Secretary of the Senate
Approved _______________, 2014

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TERRY E. BRANSTAD

Governor