AK SB27

Establishes a joint legislative Task Force on Reading Proficiency and Reading Instruction for All Students and on the Effects of Dyslexia on Some Students to evaluate reading instructional practices and examine how statutes and regulations affect reading proficiency outcomes.

Task force shall examine dyslexia's effects on reading proficiency in Alaska and other jurisdictions, and evaluate methods to improve reading instruction for all public school students and increase the percentage meeting Alaska English Language Arts standards to greater than 50 percent within three years.

Task force shall identify evidence-based approaches to instructing students affected by dyslexia, including early screening and intervention for preschool through grade three and screening and intervention for grades four through 12.

Task force consists of 15 members including three house representatives, three senate members, the education commissioner as a nonvoting member, and eight public members representing teachers, school boards, the judiciary, University of Alaska, and the Alaska Reading Coalition.

Task force shall submit an interim report by January 31, 2018, and a final report with proposed legislation by January 31, 2019, then expires on January 31, 2019.