This bill establishes a "Spelling to Communicate" pilot program for students with autism and/or apraxia. The program will offer "Spelling to Communicate" (S2C) services to students with autism and/or apraxia who are enrolled in an individualized education program. The services will be provided by trained practitioners who have been certified by the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC). The effectiveness of the program will be measured based on criteria established by I-ASC, the number of students served, and the cost of the program. Parents can apply for a grant of up to $4,500 per fiscal year to cover the cost of the services. The Department of Education will adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this program. The bill also appropriates $125,000 for each fiscal year ending in 2025 and 2026 to fund the pilot program, with $25,000 allocated for administrative costs. The bill repeals the program on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 186-C:7-d