House File 2138 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2138 BY STAED , HANSON , HUNTER , ISENHART , GAINES , WOLFE , THEDE , MASCHER , KEARNS , OURTH , PRICHARD , ABDUL-SAMAD , T. TAYLOR , GASKILL , STUTSMAN , WINCKLER , LENSING , KELLEY , DUNKEL , DAWSON , and McCONKEY A BILL FOR An Act requiring each area education agency to employ a 1 dyslexia specialist, subject to an appropriation by the 2 general assembly. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5704HH (4) 86 kh/nh
H.F. 2138 Section 1. Section 273.3, Code 2016, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 25. Beginning July 1, 2017, employ, subject 3 to an appropriation of funds for such purpose by the general 4 assembly, at least one dyslexia specialist to provide technical 5 assistance for dyslexia and related disorders to school 6 districts and accredited nonpublic schools pursuant to section 7 273.2, subsection 3, or to school districts under section 8 273.7, or to school districts and other area education agencies 9 under section 273.7A. For purposes of this subsection, a 10 “dyslexia specialist” is a person who is trained and certified 11 in a multisensory structured language program that meets the 12 level II specialist criteria set forth in the knowledge and 13 practice standards for teachers of reading published by the 14 international dyslexia association, and who has a minimum of 15 three years of field experience in screening, identifying, 16 and treating dyslexia and related disorders utilizing best 17 practices for interventions and services. 18 EXPLANATION 19 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 20 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 21 This bill directs the board of directors of each area 22 education agency (AEA), beginning July 1, 2017, to employ, 23 subject to an appropriation of funds for such purpose by the 24 general assembly, at least one dyslexia specialist to provide 25 technical assistance for dyslexia and related disorders to 26 school districts and accredited nonpublic schools as a special 27 education service, or if requested by 60 percent of the 28 number of local school boards located in the AEA or by school 29 boards representing 60 percent of the enrollment of all school 30 districts in the AEA, or under contract with a school district 31 or other AEA. 32 The bill provides that a “dyslexia specialist” is a person 33 who is trained and certified in a multisensory structured 34 language program that meets the level II specialist criteria 35 -1- LSB 5704HH (4) 86 kh/nh 1/ 2
H.F. 2138 set forth in the knowledge and practice standards for teachers 1 of reading published by the international dyslexia association, 2 and who has a minimum of three years of field experience in 3 screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related 4 disorders utilizing best practices for interventions and 5 services. 6 -2- LSB 5704HH (4) 86 kh/nh 2/ 2