CO HB1134

Creates Article 20.5 in Title 22 of Colorado Revised Statutes to establish procedures for identifying and supporting students with dyslexia in kindergarten through third grade.

Establishes a working group convened by the Commissioner of Education with 10 members including parents, educators, literacy experts, and dyslexia specialists to review identification methods, screening tools, intervention strategies, and educator training needs; group must submit policy recommendations to the legislature by July 1, 2020 and annually thereafter.

Requires the Department of Education to implement a pilot program beginning in the 2020-21 school year with up to five volunteer local education providers to develop and test screening and identification processes using Colorado READ Act assessment results to identify dyslexia markers and provide evidence-based interventions.

Appropriates $106,196 from the general fund for fiscal year 2019-20, including $94,676 for the working group and $11,520 for the pilot program.

Working group sunsets September 1, 2029; pilot program sunsets July 1, 2023, with evaluation report due to legislature by December 31, 2022.