S.F. 2356 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2020, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 3. a. Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval 3 of practitioner preparation programs and professional 4 development programs offered in this state by practitioner 5 preparation institutions located within or outside this state 6 and by area education agencies. 7 b. Procedures provided for approval of programs shall 8 include procedures for enforcement of the prescribed standards 9 and, except as provided in section 256.16, subsection 3 , shall 10 not include a procedure for the waiving of any of the standards 11 prescribed. 12 c. By July 1, 2022, the board, in collaboration with the 13 Iowa reading research center, shall adopt rules under chapter 14 17A prescribing standards and procedures for the approval of 15 practitioner preparation programs that are affiliated with 16 the Iowa reading research center and that offer practitioner 17 preparation for the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement 18 issued by the board of educational examiners pursuant to 19 section 272.2, subsection 23. The department shall not approve 20 programs that prepare practitioners for such an endorsement 21 if the programs are not approved by the Iowa reading research 22 center. 23 d. The board may establish by rule and collect from 24 practitioner preparation institutions located outside this 25 state an amount equivalent to the department’s necessary 26 travel and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the 27 program approval process for the institution located outside 28 this state. Amounts collected under this subsection shall be 29 deposited in the general fund of the state. 30 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 31 following new subsection: 32 NEW SUBSECTION . 60. By July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one 33 of the department’s authorized full-time equivalent positions 34 to maintain a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance 35 -1- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 1/ 9

S.F. 2356 and assistance, including but not limited to professional 1 development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area 2 education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic 3 schools relating to the identification of and instruction for 4 students with characteristics of dyslexia. The consultant 5 shall be highly trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of 6 three years of field experience in screening, identifying, and 7 treating dyslexia and related disorders. 8 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 256.32A Iowa dyslexia board. 9 1. An Iowa dyslexia board is established to guide, 10 facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia instruction 11 in Iowa and make recommendations for continued improvement of 12 such instruction. The Iowa dyslexia board shall also submit 13 recommendations as follows: 14 a. To the department regarding the required and preferred 15 qualifications for a dyslexia consultant position required in 16 accordance with section 256.9, subsection 60. 17 b. To the area education agencies regarding the required and 18 preferred qualifications for dyslexia specialists required in 19 accordance with section 273.2, subsection 11. 20 2. The Iowa dyslexia board shall consist of the following 21 members: 22 a. The director of the department or the director’s 23 designee. 24 b. A representative of the Iowa reading research center. 25 c. A representative of an area education agency. 26 d. One school administrator. 27 e. One reading specialist. 28 f. One special education teacher. 29 g. An elementary core literacy teacher. 30 h. Two representatives of decoding dyslexia who are parents 31 of children with dyslexia. 32 i. One representative of decoding dyslexia who is an 33 individual with dyslexia. 34 j. One provider certified in a structured literacy reading 35 -2- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 2/ 9

S.F. 2356 program. 1 k. One psychologist or speech language pathologist licensed 2 in the state of Iowa with experience in diagnosing dyslexia. 3 l. A representative of an institution of higher education 4 in Iowa with documented expertise in dyslexia and reading 5 instruction. 6 m. The department dyslexia consultant if maintained by the 7 department pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 60. 8 3. The term of membership is three years. The terms shall 9 be staggered so that at least four of the terms end each year, 10 but no member serving on the initial board shall serve less 11 than one year. The governor shall determine the length of the 12 initial terms of office. 13 4. The Iowa dyslexia board shall submit its findings and 14 recommendations in a report to the general assembly by November 15 15 annually. 16 5. This section is repealed July 1, 2025. 17 Sec. 4. Section 272.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 18 following new subsection: 19 NEW SUBSECTION . 23. By July 1, 2021, adopt rules pursuant 20 to chapter 17A, developed in collaboration with the Iowa 21 reading research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia 22 specialist endorsement. The endorsement shall require a 23 strong understanding of structured literacy instruction; the 24 neurobiological nature, cognitive-linguistic correlates, 25 developmental indicators, compensatory behaviors, potential 26 psychological factors, and co-occurring disorders of dyslexia; 27 demonstrated skill in administering informal and formal 28 assessments related to dyslexia; demonstrated skill in delivery 29 of explicit, systematic literacy intervention; demonstrated 30 skill in developing and supporting services for students 31 with characteristics of dyslexia including those who are 32 eligible for services under chapter 256B or section 504 of 33 the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794, as 34 amended; demonstrated skill in the design and implementation 35 -3- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 3/ 9

S.F. 2356 of accommodations and modifications; demonstrated competence 1 in creating a dyslexia-friendly learning environment; and 2 demonstrated skill in the use and integration of assistive 3 technology. This endorsement shall, at a minimum, require 4 three years of prior teaching experience and completion of a 5 supervised practical experience. 6 Sec. 5. Section 273.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 7 following new subsection: 8 NEW SUBSECTION . 11. Subject to an appropriation by the 9 general assembly for such purpose, the area education agency 10 board shall, by July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one full-time 11 equivalent position to maintain a dyslexia specialist. The 12 area education agency board may hire such a specialist or may 13 provide appropriate training to qualify an existing employee 14 as a specialist on dyslexia. The specialist shall provide 15 technical guidance and assistance, including but not limited 16 to professional development, strategies, and materials to 17 school districts and accredited nonpublic schools relating 18 to identification of and instruction for students with 19 characteristics of dyslexia. The specialist shall be highly 20 trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of three years of field 21 experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and 22 related disorders. In the absence of an appropriation, each 23 area education agency board is encouraged to employ a highly 24 qualified dyslexia specialist. 25 Sec. 6. Section 273.3, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 26 following new subsection: 27 NEW SUBSECTION . 25. Require, by July 1, 2024, any person 28 employed by the area education agency who holds a license, 29 certificate, statement of recognition, or authorization 30 other than a coaching authorization, issued by the board of 31 educational examiners under chapter 272, to complete the Iowa 32 reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such persons 33 employed after July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within 34 one year of the employee’s initial date of hire. 35 -4- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 4/ 9

S.F. 2356 Sec. 7. Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph d, 1 subparagraph (3), subparagraph division (a), Code 2020, is 2 amended to read as follows: 3 (a) Assists students who are persistently at risk in reading 4 to develop the skills to read at grade level. Assistance 5 shall include but not be limited to strategies that formally 6 address dyslexia, when appropriate. For purposes of this 7 subparagraph division (a), “dyslexia” means a specific and 8 significant impairment in the development of reading, including 9 but not limited to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, 10 vocabulary, and comprehension, that is not solely accounted 11 for by intellectual disability, sensory learning disability 12 or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction that is 13 neurobiological in origin, is characterized by difficulties 14 with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling 15 and decoding abilities, and may include difficulties that 16 typically result from a deficit in the phonological component 17 of language that is often unexpected in relation to other 18 cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom 19 instruction, as well as secondary consequences such as problems 20 in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that 21 can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge . 22 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION . 279.72 Training on dyslexia. 23 By July 1, 2024, the board of directors of a school district 24 shall require all persons employed by the school district who 25 hold a teaching license or endorsement for special education 26 or prekindergarten through grade three levels issued under 27 chapter 272, all practitioners and paraprofessionals assigned 28 as Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the 29 federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, and all 30 practitioners endorsed to teach English as a second language 31 to complete the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview 32 module. Such persons employed by the school district after 33 July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the 34 employee’s initial date of hire. 35 -5- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 5/ 9

S.F. 2356 Sec. 9. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance 1 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring 2 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall 3 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid 4 received by the school district under section 257.16. This 5 specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed 6 to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of 7 section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding 8 shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act 9 by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school 10 districts. 11 EXPLANATION 12 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 13 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 14 This bill relates to the education of students with 15 characteristics of dyslexia and to the preparation and 16 licensure of practitioners who provide instruction to such 17 students, and establishes an Iowa dyslexia board. 18 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION —— PRACTITIONER PREPARATION 19 INSTITUTIONS. The bill requires the state board of education, 20 in collaboration with the Iowa reading research center, 21 to adopt rules by July 1, 2022, prescribing standards and 22 procedures for the approval of practitioner preparation 23 programs that are affiliated with the Iowa reading research 24 center and that offer practitioner preparation for the 25 advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of 26 educational examiners. The bill prohibits the department of 27 education from approving programs that prepare practitioners 28 for such an endorsement if the programs are not approved by the 29 Iowa reading research center. 30 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— DYSLEXIA CONSULTANT. The 31 director of the department must, by July 1, 2024, maintain 32 a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance and 33 assistance, including but not limited to professional 34 development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area 35 -6- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 6/ 9

S.F. 2356 education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic 1 schools relating to the identification of and instruction for 2 students with characteristics of dyslexia. 3 IOWA DYSLEXIA BOARD. An Iowa dyslexia board is established 4 to guide, facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia 5 instruction in Iowa and make recommendations for continued 6 improvement of such instruction. The bill lists the 7 recommendations the board is required to make to the department 8 and area education agencies. 9 Membership on the board consists of persons representing the 10 department, the Iowa reading research center, area education 11 agencies, practitioners, decoding dyslexia, a structured 12 literacy reading program, dyslexia diagnosticians, and higher 13 education. Members serve staggered three-year terms. 14 The board shall submit its findings and recommendations in a 15 report to the general assembly by November 15 annually. The 16 section establishing the board is repealed July 1, 2025. 17 BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS —— ENDORSEMENT. By July 18 1, 2021, the board of educational examiners must adopt 19 rules, developed in collaboration with the Iowa reading 20 research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia specialist 21 endorsement. The bill identifies the skill, knowledge, and 22 experience requirements that must be met before the endorsement 23 may be issued to an applicant. 24 AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES —— PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS. Subject 25 to an appropriation by the general assembly for such purpose, 26 each area education agency must, by July 1, 2024, maintain 27 a dyslexia specialist. The specialists may be hired or an 28 existing employee may be provided the appropriate training to 29 qualify as a dyslexia specialist. The specialist must provide 30 technical guidance and assistance to school districts and 31 accredited nonpublic schools relating to identification of and 32 instruction for students with characteristics of dyslexia. In 33 the absence of an appropriation, each area education agency is 34 encouraged to employ a highly qualified dyslexia specialist. 35 -7- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 7/ 9

S.F. 2356 By July 1, 2024, any person employed by an area education 1 agency who holds a license, certificate, authorization other 2 than a coaching authorization, or statement of recognition 3 issued by the board of educational examiners must complete the 4 Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such 5 persons employed after July 1, 2024, must complete the module 6 within one year of the employee’s initial date of hire. 7 SCHOOL DISTRICTS —— K-3 STUDENT READING PROGRESSION AND 8 TRAINING. The bill modifies the definition of “dyslexia” used 9 for purposes of the assistance school districts must provide 10 to students who are persistently at risk in reading to develop 11 the skills to read at grade level. Under the bill, “dyslexia” 12 means a specific learning disability that is neurobiological 13 in origin, is characterized by difficulties with accurate or 14 fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding 15 abilities, and may include difficulties that typically result 16 from a deficit in the phonological component of language that 17 is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities 18 and the provision of effective classroom instruction, as 19 well as secondary consequences such as problems in reading 20 comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede 21 growth of vocabulary and background knowledge. 22 By July 1, 2024, all persons employed by a school district 23 who hold a teaching license or endorsement for special 24 education or prekindergarten through grade three levels, all 25 Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the 26 federal Every Student Succeeds Act, and all practitioners 27 endorsed to teach English as a second language, must complete 28 the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module. 29 Such persons employed by the school district after July 30 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the 31 employee’s initial date of hire. 32 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 33 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of 34 any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school 35 -8- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 8/ 9

S.F. 2356 district from state school foundation aid received by the 1 school district under Code section 257.16. The specification 2 is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate 3 funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The 4 inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the 5 requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state 6 mandates included in the bill. 7 -9- LSB 6089SV (2) 88 kh/jh 9/ 9