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Senate File 2356 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the education of students with
2characteristics of dyslexia and to the preparation and
3licensure of practitioners for such instruction, and
4establishing an Iowa dyslexia board.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2020, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. a. Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval
4of practitioner preparation programs and professional
5development programs offered in this state by practitioner
6preparation institutions located within or outside this state
7and by area education agencies.
8b. Procedures provided for approval of programs shall
9include procedures for enforcement of the prescribed standards
10and, except as provided in section 256.16, subsection 3, shall
11not include a procedure for the waiving of any of the standards
12prescribed.
13c. By July 1, 2022, the board, in collaboration with the
14Iowa reading research center, shall adopt rules under chapter
1517A prescribing standards and procedures for the approval of
16practitioner preparation programs that are affiliated with
17the Iowa reading research center and that offer practitioner
18preparation for the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement
19issued by the board of educational examiners pursuant to
20section 272.2, subsection 23. The department shall not approve
21programs that prepare practitioners for such an endorsement
22if the programs are not approved by the Iowa reading research
23center.
24d. The board may establish by rule and collect from
25practitioner preparation institutions located outside this
26state an amount equivalent to the department’s necessary
27travel and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the
28program approval process for the institution located outside
29this state. Amounts collected under this subsection shall be
30deposited in the general fund of the state.
31 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
32following new subsection:
33 NEW SUBSECTION. 60. By July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one
34of the department’s authorized full-time equivalent positions
35to maintain a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance
-1-1and assistance, including but not limited to professional
2development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area
3education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic
4schools relating to the identification of and instruction for
5students with characteristics of dyslexia. The consultant
6shall be highly trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of
7three years of field experience in screening, identifying, and
8treating dyslexia and related disorders.
9 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 256.32A Iowa dyslexia board.
101. An Iowa dyslexia board is established to guide,
11facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia instruction
12in Iowa and make recommendations for continued improvement of
13such instruction. The Iowa dyslexia board shall also submit
14recommendations as follows:
15a. To the department regarding the required and preferred
16qualifications for a dyslexia consultant position required in
17accordance with section 256.9, subsection 60.
18b. To the area education agencies regarding the required and
19preferred qualifications for dyslexia specialists required in
20accordance with section 273.2, subsection 11.
212. The Iowa dyslexia board shall consist of the following
22members:
23a. The director of the department or the director’s
24designee.
25b. A representative of the Iowa reading research center.
26c. A representative of an area education agency.
27d. One school administrator.
28e. One reading specialist.
29f. One special education teacher.
30g. An elementary core literacy teacher.
31h. Two representatives of decoding dyslexia who are parents
32of children with dyslexia.
33i. One representative of decoding dyslexia who is an
34individual with dyslexia.
35j. One provider certified in a structured literacy reading
-2-1program.
2k. One psychologist or speech language pathologist licensed
3in the state of Iowa with experience in diagnosing dyslexia.
4l. A representative of an institution of higher education
5in Iowa with documented expertise in dyslexia and reading
6instruction.
7m. The department dyslexia consultant if maintained by the
8department pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 60.
93. The term of membership is three years. The terms shall
10be staggered so that at least four of the terms end each year,
11but no member serving on the initial board shall serve less
12than one year. The governor shall determine the length of the
13initial terms of office.
144. The Iowa dyslexia board shall submit its findings and
15recommendations in a report to the general assembly by November
1615 annually.
175. This section is repealed July 1, 2025.
18 Sec. 4. Section 272.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
19following new subsection:
20 NEW SUBSECTION. 23. By July 1, 2021, adopt rules pursuant
21to chapter 17A, developed in collaboration with the Iowa
22reading research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia
23specialist endorsement. The endorsement shall require a
24strong understanding of structured literacy instruction; the
25neurobiological nature, cognitive-linguistic correlates,
26developmental indicators, compensatory behaviors, potential
27psychological factors, and co-occurring disorders of dyslexia;
28demonstrated skill in administering informal and formal
29assessments related to dyslexia; demonstrated skill in delivery
30of explicit, systematic literacy intervention; demonstrated
31skill in developing and supporting services for students
32with characteristics of dyslexia including those who are
33eligible for services under chapter 256B or section 504 of
34the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.§794, as
35amended; demonstrated skill in the design and implementation
-3-1of accommodations and modifications; demonstrated competence
2in creating a dyslexia-friendly learning environment; and
3demonstrated skill in the use and integration of assistive
4technology. This endorsement shall, at a minimum, require
5three years of prior teaching experience and completion of a
6supervised practical experience.
7 Sec. 5. Section 273.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
8following new subsection:
9 NEW SUBSECTION. 11. Subject to an appropriation by the
10general assembly for such purpose, the area education agency
11board shall, by July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one full-time
12equivalent position to maintain a dyslexia specialist. The
13area education agency board may hire such a specialist or may
14provide appropriate training to qualify an existing employee
15as a specialist on dyslexia. The specialist shall provide
16technical guidance and assistance, including but not limited
17to professional development, strategies, and materials to
18school districts and accredited nonpublic schools relating
19to identification of and instruction for students with
20characteristics of dyslexia. The specialist shall be highly
21trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of three years of field
22experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and
23related disorders. In the absence of an appropriation, each
24area education agency board is encouraged to employ a highly
25qualified dyslexia specialist.
26 Sec. 6. Section 273.3, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
27following new subsection:
28 NEW SUBSECTION. 25. Require, by July 1, 2024, any person
29employed by the area education agency who holds a license,
30certificate, statement of recognition, or authorization
31other than a coaching authorization, issued by the board of
32educational examiners under chapter 272, to complete the Iowa
33reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such persons
34employed after July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within
35one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
-4-1 Sec. 7. Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph d,
2subparagraph (3), subparagraph division (a), Code 2020, is
3amended to read as follows:
4(a) Assists students who are persistently at risk in reading
5to develop the skills to read at grade level. Assistance
6shall include but not be limited to strategies that formally
7address dyslexia, when appropriate. For purposes of this
8subparagraph division (a), “dyslexia” means a specific and
9significant impairment in the development of reading, including
10but not limited to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
11vocabulary, and comprehension, that is not solely accounted
12for by intellectual disability, sensory learning disability
13or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction that is
14neurobiological in origin, is characterized by difficulties
15with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling
16and decoding abilities, and may include difficulties that
17typically result from a deficit in the phonological component
18of language that is often unexpected in relation to other
19cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom
20instruction, as well as secondary consequences such as problems
21in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that
22can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
23 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION. 279.72 Training on dyslexia.
24By July 1, 2024, the board of directors of a school district
25shall require all persons employed by the school district who
26hold a teaching license or endorsement for special education
27or prekindergarten through grade three levels issued under
28chapter 272, all practitioners and paraprofessionals assigned
29as Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the
30federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub.L. No.114-95, and all
31practitioners endorsed to teach English as a second language
32to complete the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview
33module. Such persons employed by the school district after
34July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the
35employee’s initial date of hire.
-5-1 Sec. 9. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
2with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
3compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
4be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
5received by the school district under section 257.16. This
6specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed
7to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of
8section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding
9shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act
10by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
11districts.
12EXPLANATION
13The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
14the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
15This bill relates to the education of students with
16characteristics of dyslexia and to the preparation and
17licensure of practitioners who provide instruction to such
18students, and establishes an Iowa dyslexia board.
19STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION — PRACTITIONER PREPARATION
20INSTITUTIONS. The bill requires the state board of education,
21in collaboration with the Iowa reading research center,
22to adopt rules by July 1, 2022, prescribing standards and
23procedures for the approval of practitioner preparation
24programs that are affiliated with the Iowa reading research
25center and that offer practitioner preparation for the
26advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of
27educational examiners. The bill prohibits the department of
28education from approving programs that prepare practitioners
29for such an endorsement if the programs are not approved by the
30Iowa reading research center.
31DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — DYSLEXIA CONSULTANT. The
32director of the department must, by July 1, 2024, maintain
33a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance and
34assistance, including but not limited to professional
35development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area
-6-1education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic
2schools relating to the identification of and instruction for
3students with characteristics of dyslexia.
4IOWA DYSLEXIA BOARD. An Iowa dyslexia board is established
5to guide, facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia
6instruction in Iowa and make recommendations for continued
7improvement of such instruction. The bill lists the
8recommendations the board is required to make to the department
9and area education agencies.
10Membership on the board consists of persons representing the
11department, the Iowa reading research center, area education
12agencies, practitioners, decoding dyslexia, a structured
13literacy reading program, dyslexia diagnosticians, and higher
14education. Members serve staggered three-year terms.
15The board shall submit its findings and recommendations in a
16report to the general assembly by November 15 annually. The
17section establishing the board is repealed July 1, 2025.
18BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS — ENDORSEMENT. By July
191, 2021, the board of educational examiners must adopt
20rules, developed in collaboration with the Iowa reading
21research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia specialist
22endorsement. The bill identifies the skill, knowledge, and
23experience requirements that must be met before the endorsement
24may be issued to an applicant.
25AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES — PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS. Subject
26to an appropriation by the general assembly for such purpose,
27each area education agency must, by July 1, 2024, maintain
28a dyslexia specialist. The specialists may be hired or an
29existing employee may be provided the appropriate training to
30qualify as a dyslexia specialist. The specialist must provide
31technical guidance and assistance to school districts and
32accredited nonpublic schools relating to identification of and
33instruction for students with characteristics of dyslexia. In
34the absence of an appropriation, each area education agency is
35encouraged to employ a highly qualified dyslexia specialist.
-7- 1By July 1, 2024, any person employed by an area education
2agency who holds a license, certificate, authorization other
3than a coaching authorization, or statement of recognition
4issued by the board of educational examiners must complete the
5Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such
6persons employed after July 1, 2024, must complete the module
7within one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
8SCHOOL DISTRICTS — K-3 STUDENT READING PROGRESSION AND
9TRAINING. The bill modifies the definition of “dyslexia” used
10for purposes of the assistance school districts must provide
11to students who are persistently at risk in reading to develop
12the skills to read at grade level. Under the bill, “dyslexia”
13means a specific learning disability that is neurobiological
14in origin, is characterized by difficulties with accurate or
15fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding
16abilities, and may include difficulties that typically result
17from a deficit in the phonological component of language that
18is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities
19and the provision of effective classroom instruction, as
20well as secondary consequences such as problems in reading
21comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede
22growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
23By July 1, 2024, all persons employed by a school district
24who hold a teaching license or endorsement for special
25education or prekindergarten through grade three levels, all
26Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the
27federal Every Student Succeeds Act, and all practitioners
28endorsed to teach English as a second language, must complete
29the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module.
30Such persons employed by the school district after July
311, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the
32employee’s initial date of hire.
33The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code
34section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of
35any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school
-8-1district from state school foundation aid received by the
2school district under Code section 257.16. The specification
3is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate
4funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The
5inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the
6requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state
7mandates included in the bill.
-9-kh/jh
2characteristics of dyslexia and to the preparation and
3licensure of practitioners for such instruction, and
4establishing an Iowa dyslexia board.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2020, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. a. Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval
4of practitioner preparation programs and professional
5development programs offered in this state by practitioner
6preparation institutions located within or outside this state
7and by area education agencies.
8b. Procedures provided for approval of programs shall
9include procedures for enforcement of the prescribed standards
10and, except as provided in section 256.16, subsection 3, shall
11not include a procedure for the waiving of any of the standards
12prescribed.
13c. By July 1, 2022, the board, in collaboration with the
14Iowa reading research center, shall adopt rules under chapter
1517A prescribing standards and procedures for the approval of
16practitioner preparation programs that are affiliated with
17the Iowa reading research center and that offer practitioner
18preparation for the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement
19issued by the board of educational examiners pursuant to
20section 272.2, subsection 23. The department shall not approve
21programs that prepare practitioners for such an endorsement
22if the programs are not approved by the Iowa reading research
23center.
24d. The board may establish by rule and collect from
25practitioner preparation institutions located outside this
26state an amount equivalent to the department’s necessary
27travel and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the
28program approval process for the institution located outside
29this state. Amounts collected under this subsection shall be
30deposited in the general fund of the state.
31 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
32following new subsection:
33 NEW SUBSECTION. 60. By July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one
34of the department’s authorized full-time equivalent positions
35to maintain a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance
-1-1and assistance, including but not limited to professional
2development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area
3education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic
4schools relating to the identification of and instruction for
5students with characteristics of dyslexia. The consultant
6shall be highly trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of
7three years of field experience in screening, identifying, and
8treating dyslexia and related disorders.
9 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 256.32A Iowa dyslexia board.
101. An Iowa dyslexia board is established to guide,
11facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia instruction
12in Iowa and make recommendations for continued improvement of
13such instruction. The Iowa dyslexia board shall also submit
14recommendations as follows:
15a. To the department regarding the required and preferred
16qualifications for a dyslexia consultant position required in
17accordance with section 256.9, subsection 60.
18b. To the area education agencies regarding the required and
19preferred qualifications for dyslexia specialists required in
20accordance with section 273.2, subsection 11.
212. The Iowa dyslexia board shall consist of the following
22members:
23a. The director of the department or the director’s
24designee.
25b. A representative of the Iowa reading research center.
26c. A representative of an area education agency.
27d. One school administrator.
28e. One reading specialist.
29f. One special education teacher.
30g. An elementary core literacy teacher.
31h. Two representatives of decoding dyslexia who are parents
32of children with dyslexia.
33i. One representative of decoding dyslexia who is an
34individual with dyslexia.
35j. One provider certified in a structured literacy reading
-2-1program.
2k. One psychologist or speech language pathologist licensed
3in the state of Iowa with experience in diagnosing dyslexia.
4l. A representative of an institution of higher education
5in Iowa with documented expertise in dyslexia and reading
6instruction.
7m. The department dyslexia consultant if maintained by the
8department pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 60.
93. The term of membership is three years. The terms shall
10be staggered so that at least four of the terms end each year,
11but no member serving on the initial board shall serve less
12than one year. The governor shall determine the length of the
13initial terms of office.
144. The Iowa dyslexia board shall submit its findings and
15recommendations in a report to the general assembly by November
1615 annually.
175. This section is repealed July 1, 2025.
18 Sec. 4. Section 272.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
19following new subsection:
20 NEW SUBSECTION. 23. By July 1, 2021, adopt rules pursuant
21to chapter 17A, developed in collaboration with the Iowa
22reading research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia
23specialist endorsement. The endorsement shall require a
24strong understanding of structured literacy instruction; the
25neurobiological nature, cognitive-linguistic correlates,
26developmental indicators, compensatory behaviors, potential
27psychological factors, and co-occurring disorders of dyslexia;
28demonstrated skill in administering informal and formal
29assessments related to dyslexia; demonstrated skill in delivery
30of explicit, systematic literacy intervention; demonstrated
31skill in developing and supporting services for students
32with characteristics of dyslexia including those who are
33eligible for services under chapter 256B or section 504 of
34the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.§794, as
35amended; demonstrated skill in the design and implementation
-3-1of accommodations and modifications; demonstrated competence
2in creating a dyslexia-friendly learning environment; and
3demonstrated skill in the use and integration of assistive
4technology. This endorsement shall, at a minimum, require
5three years of prior teaching experience and completion of a
6supervised practical experience.
7 Sec. 5. Section 273.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
8following new subsection:
9 NEW SUBSECTION. 11. Subject to an appropriation by the
10general assembly for such purpose, the area education agency
11board shall, by July 1, 2024, dedicate at least one full-time
12equivalent position to maintain a dyslexia specialist. The
13area education agency board may hire such a specialist or may
14provide appropriate training to qualify an existing employee
15as a specialist on dyslexia. The specialist shall provide
16technical guidance and assistance, including but not limited
17to professional development, strategies, and materials to
18school districts and accredited nonpublic schools relating
19to identification of and instruction for students with
20characteristics of dyslexia. The specialist shall be highly
21trained in dyslexia and have a minimum of three years of field
22experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and
23related disorders. In the absence of an appropriation, each
24area education agency board is encouraged to employ a highly
25qualified dyslexia specialist.
26 Sec. 6. Section 273.3, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
27following new subsection:
28 NEW SUBSECTION. 25. Require, by July 1, 2024, any person
29employed by the area education agency who holds a license,
30certificate, statement of recognition, or authorization
31other than a coaching authorization, issued by the board of
32educational examiners under chapter 272, to complete the Iowa
33reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such persons
34employed after July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within
35one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
-4-1 Sec. 7. Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph d,
2subparagraph (3), subparagraph division (a), Code 2020, is
3amended to read as follows:
4(a) Assists students who are persistently at risk in reading
5to develop the skills to read at grade level. Assistance
6shall include but not be limited to strategies that formally
7address dyslexia, when appropriate. For purposes of this
8subparagraph division (a), “dyslexia” means a specific and
9significant impairment in the development of reading, including
10but not limited to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
11vocabulary, and comprehension, that is not solely accounted
12for by intellectual disability, sensory learning disability
13or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction that is
14neurobiological in origin, is characterized by difficulties
15with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling
16and decoding abilities, and may include difficulties that
17typically result from a deficit in the phonological component
18of language that is often unexpected in relation to other
19cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom
20instruction, as well as secondary consequences such as problems
21in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that
22can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
23 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION. 279.72 Training on dyslexia.
24By July 1, 2024, the board of directors of a school district
25shall require all persons employed by the school district who
26hold a teaching license or endorsement for special education
27or prekindergarten through grade three levels issued under
28chapter 272, all practitioners and paraprofessionals assigned
29as Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the
30federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub.L. No.114-95, and all
31practitioners endorsed to teach English as a second language
32to complete the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview
33module. Such persons employed by the school district after
34July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the
35employee’s initial date of hire.
-5-1 Sec. 9. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
2with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
3compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
4be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
5received by the school district under section 257.16. This
6specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed
7to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of
8section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding
9shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act
10by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
11districts.
12EXPLANATION
13The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
14the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
15This bill relates to the education of students with
16characteristics of dyslexia and to the preparation and
17licensure of practitioners who provide instruction to such
18students, and establishes an Iowa dyslexia board.
19STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION — PRACTITIONER PREPARATION
20INSTITUTIONS. The bill requires the state board of education,
21in collaboration with the Iowa reading research center,
22to adopt rules by July 1, 2022, prescribing standards and
23procedures for the approval of practitioner preparation
24programs that are affiliated with the Iowa reading research
25center and that offer practitioner preparation for the
26advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of
27educational examiners. The bill prohibits the department of
28education from approving programs that prepare practitioners
29for such an endorsement if the programs are not approved by the
30Iowa reading research center.
31DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — DYSLEXIA CONSULTANT. The
32director of the department must, by July 1, 2024, maintain
33a dyslexia consultant to provide technical guidance and
34assistance, including but not limited to professional
35development, strategies, and materials, to the department, area
-6-1education agencies, school districts, and accredited nonpublic
2schools relating to the identification of and instruction for
3students with characteristics of dyslexia.
4IOWA DYSLEXIA BOARD. An Iowa dyslexia board is established
5to guide, facilitate, and oversee implementation of dyslexia
6instruction in Iowa and make recommendations for continued
7improvement of such instruction. The bill lists the
8recommendations the board is required to make to the department
9and area education agencies.
10Membership on the board consists of persons representing the
11department, the Iowa reading research center, area education
12agencies, practitioners, decoding dyslexia, a structured
13literacy reading program, dyslexia diagnosticians, and higher
14education. Members serve staggered three-year terms.
15The board shall submit its findings and recommendations in a
16report to the general assembly by November 15 annually. The
17section establishing the board is repealed July 1, 2025.
18BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS — ENDORSEMENT. By July
191, 2021, the board of educational examiners must adopt
20rules, developed in collaboration with the Iowa reading
21research center, establishing an advanced dyslexia specialist
22endorsement. The bill identifies the skill, knowledge, and
23experience requirements that must be met before the endorsement
24may be issued to an applicant.
25AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES — PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS. Subject
26to an appropriation by the general assembly for such purpose,
27each area education agency must, by July 1, 2024, maintain
28a dyslexia specialist. The specialists may be hired or an
29existing employee may be provided the appropriate training to
30qualify as a dyslexia specialist. The specialist must provide
31technical guidance and assistance to school districts and
32accredited nonpublic schools relating to identification of and
33instruction for students with characteristics of dyslexia. In
34the absence of an appropriation, each area education agency is
35encouraged to employ a highly qualified dyslexia specialist.
-7- 1By July 1, 2024, any person employed by an area education
2agency who holds a license, certificate, authorization other
3than a coaching authorization, or statement of recognition
4issued by the board of educational examiners must complete the
5Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such
6persons employed after July 1, 2024, must complete the module
7within one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
8SCHOOL DISTRICTS — K-3 STUDENT READING PROGRESSION AND
9TRAINING. The bill modifies the definition of “dyslexia” used
10for purposes of the assistance school districts must provide
11to students who are persistently at risk in reading to develop
12the skills to read at grade level. Under the bill, “dyslexia”
13means a specific learning disability that is neurobiological
14in origin, is characterized by difficulties with accurate or
15fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding
16abilities, and may include difficulties that typically result
17from a deficit in the phonological component of language that
18is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities
19and the provision of effective classroom instruction, as
20well as secondary consequences such as problems in reading
21comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede
22growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
23By July 1, 2024, all persons employed by a school district
24who hold a teaching license or endorsement for special
25education or prekindergarten through grade three levels, all
26Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the
27federal Every Student Succeeds Act, and all practitioners
28endorsed to teach English as a second language, must complete
29the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module.
30Such persons employed by the school district after July
311, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the
32employee’s initial date of hire.
33The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code
34section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of
35any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school
-8-1district from state school foundation aid received by the
2school district under Code section 257.16. The specification
3is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate
4funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The
5inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the
6requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state
7mandates included in the bill.
-9-kh/jh