Dyslexia specialist; training requirements; screening requirements; rules

(1) The Department of Education shall designate a dyslexia specialist for the department to provide school districts with support and resources that are necessary to:

(a) Assist students with dyslexia and their families; and

(b) Comply with the requirements of this section.

(2) Each school district shall ensure that at least one kindergarten through grade five teacher in each kindergarten through grade five school has received training related to dyslexia. The training must comply with the requirements described in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2) of this section, a training opportunity related to dyslexia must:

(a) Comply with the knowledge and practice standards of an international organization on dyslexia;

(b) Enable the teacher to understand and recognize dyslexia; and

(c) Enable the teacher to implement instruction that is systematic, explicit and evidence-based to meet the educational needs of students with dyslexia.

(4) The department shall annually develop a list of training opportunities related to dyslexia that satisfy the requirements described in subsection (3) of this section. The list must:

(a) Be developed in collaboration with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to ensure that the training opportunities also satisfy professional development requirements; and

(b) Include at least one opportunity that is provided entirely online.

(5) Each school district shall ensure that every student is screened for risk factors of dyslexia using a screening test identified by the department when the student is in:

(a) Kindergarten, if the student first enrolls at a public school in this state for kindergarten; or