BILL REQ. #:  S-1477.1 

Read first time 02/13/09.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to training for educators to identify students with dyslexia; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects individuals throughout their lives. Washington state has a long-standing tradition of working to serve its students with dyslexia. Since 2005, the legislature has provided funding for five pilot projects to implement research-based, multisensory literacy intervention for students with dyslexia. Participating schools were required to have a three-tiered reading structure in place, provide professional development training to teachers, assess students, and collect and maintain data on student progress.
     The legislature finds that the students receiving intervention support through the dyslexia pilot projects have made substantial and steady academic gains. The legislature intends to sustain this work and expand the implementation to a level of statewide support for students with dyslexia by developing and providing information and training, including a handbook to continue to improve the skills of our students with dyslexia.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) To the extent funds are appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop an educator training program to enhance the reading, writing, and spelling skills of students with dyslexia by implementing the findings of the dyslexia pilot program. The training program shall be regionally delivered through the educational service districts. The program must provide research-based, multisensory literacy intervention professional development in the areas of dyslexia and intervention implementation.
     (2) Funds shall be used to provide information and training to classroom teachers and reading specialists, the development of a dyslexia handbook, and to take other statewide actions to improve the reading, writing, and spelling skills of students with dyslexia.
     (3) Beginning September 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, each educational service district shall report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction the number of individuals who participate in the training offered by the educational service district. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall share that information with the legislative education committees.