Senate Bill 33 Summary

• Requires school districts to screen students in kindergarten through grade two using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment for markers of dyslexia and related disorders.

• Establishes a Response to Intervention (RTI) process for students showing dyslexia markers, with formal dyslexia evaluation and therapeutic services provided to students identified as dyslexic.

• Defines dyslexia therapy as specialized, systematic, multi-sensory instruction delivered by trained dyslexia therapists in small group settings, covering phonemic awareness, phonics, language structure, and reading strategies.

• Requires the Department of Education to employ at least one dyslexia specialist by fiscal year 2015 and ensure at least one trained dyslexia specialist at each education service cooperative by the 2015-2016 academic year.

• Mandates professional awareness training for all teachers on dyslexia indicators by the 2014-2015 school year and directs the department to update a Dyslexia Resource Guide for school districts and teachers.