House File 326 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 326 BY STAED , HIGHFILL , KOESTER , STECKMAN , DUNKEL , and KELLEY 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 2261HH (4) 86 kh/nh
H.F. 326 Section 1. Section 273.3, Code 2015, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 25. Employ, subject to an appropriation 3 of funds for such purpose by the general assembly, at least 4 one dyslexia specialist to provide technical assistance 5 for dyslexia and related disorders to school districts and 6 accredited nonpublic schools pursuant to section 273.2, 7 subsection 3, or to school districts under section 273.7, 8 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) to employ, subject to an appropriation 23 of funds for such purpose by the general assembly, at least 24 one dyslexia specialist to provide technical assistance 25 for dyslexia and related disorders to school districts and 26 accredited nonpublic schools as a special education service, or 27 if requested by 60 percent of the number of local school boards 28 located in the AEA or by school boards representing 60 percent 29 of the enrollment of all school districts in the AEA, or under 30 contract with a school district or other AEA. 31 The bill provides that a “dyslexia specialist” is a person 32 who is trained and certified in a multisensory structured 33 language program that meets the level II specialist criteria 34 set forth in the knowledge and practice standards for teachers 35 -1- LSB 2261HH (4) 86 kh/nh 1/ 2
H.F. 326 of reading published by the international dyslexia association, 1 and who has a minimum of three years of field experience in 2 screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related 3 disorders utilizing best practices for interventions and 4 services. 5 -2- LSB 2261HH (4) 86 kh/nh 2/ 2