AR SB660

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create a network of Certified Academic Language Therapists to provide specialized dyslexia instructional programs for public school students with dyslexia or related reading and written-language difficulties.

Division must establish and coordinate a dyslexia therapy training program for educators to increase the number of certified therapists available to provide diagnostic, explicit, systematic, multisensory language intervention.

Division shall annually convene the network of Certified Academic Language Therapists to provide updated guidance, create resources for schools and parents, and review reading outcomes data in the state.

Division must coordinate an International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council-accredited course to create pathways for certified teachers to develop proficiency in the science of reading and expand the network of dyslexia therapists.

Education service cooperatives may support implementation by providing additional dyslexia services through regional consortiums.