Senate Bill 6016 relates to training for educators to identify students with dyslexia.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Since 2005 the Legislature has provided funding for up to five school districts to pilot a research-based, multi-sensory literacy intervention for students with dyslexia. Participating schools must have a three-tiered reading structure in place, provide professional development training to teachers, assess students, and collect and maintain data on student progress. In December 2008 the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) issued a report to the Legislature regarding the dyslexia pilots. The report found that 40 percent of the students who received services through the pilots met standard on the reading component of the WASL, whereas only 17 percent of the same students had met standards on the reading WASL in 2007. The report included recommendations to provide statewide support and to develop a dyslexia handbook.

The bill intends to sustain the work of the dyslexia pilot projects and expand the implementation to a level of statewide support. Within available resources, the OSPI must develop an educator training program to enhance the academic skills of students with dyslexia by implementing the findings of the dyslexia pilot program. At the time of publication, both houses of the legislature have passed the bill with no dissenting votes. It is on the governor’s desk where it is awaiting her signature. The final OSPI budget also includes funding.

$145,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2010 and $145,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2011 are provided solely to the office of the superintendent of public instruction to enhance the reading skills of students with dyslexia by implementing the findings of the dyslexia pilot program. Funds shall be used to provide information and training to classroom teachers and reading specialists, for development of a dyslexia handbook, and to take other statewide actions to improve the reading skills of students with dyslexia. The training program shall be delivered regionally through the educational service districts

What YOU Can Do To Help

SB 6016 has passed in the legislature and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.

Please contact your Washington State Representative to support this important Bill. Tell them that Washington needs this legislation!

If you are not a resident of Washington, but have friends or relatives in Washington encourage them to contact their Representative.

Find your Representative at www.washington.gov.

Click here to follow the bill:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6016

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Senate Bill 6016 relates to training for educators to identify students with dyslexia.