NY A08492

Establishes a task force led by the Commissioner of Education with at least ten members, including specialists in dyslexia/dysgraphia identification, educators, parents, individuals with these conditions, higher education experts, and literacy teachers representing all state regions.

Requires the task force to conduct at least two public hearings to gather input from stakeholders including speech pathologists, reading specialists, teachers, administrators, and parents.

Task force must submit a report within twelve months (reduced from eighteen months) to the Commissioner, Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker with recommendations on screening methods, interventions, and best practices for kindergarten through grade five students.

Requires the Commissioner of Education to publish the task force's recommended evidence-based screening methods, interventions, and educational supports on the State Education Department website.

Task force automatically dissolves upon submission of its report; defines "screening methods" to include examination of valid, reliable, low-cost assessments measuring phonological awareness, memory, naming speed, vocabulary, phonics, decoding/encoding, and writing skills across diverse student populations.