This bill establishes a three-year pilot program within the Department of Education (DOE) aimed at providing assistive technology and services to elementary and middle school students diagnosed with dyslexia and related conditions. The program's primary objectives are to deliver written material in accessible auditory or text-to-speech formats to help students read at grade level and to assist them in completing written assignments more effectively. To support this initiative, the Commissioner of Education will allocate grants to selected school districts to cover the costs associated with acquiring the necessary technology and training teachers in its use.
School districts interested in participating must submit an application detailing the number of students with dyslexia, their grade levels, reading abilities, and the specific assistive technology and services they plan to implement. The Commissioner will select seven districts from a diverse range of urban, suburban, and rural areas to participate in the program. At the conclusion of the pilot, the Commissioner is required to report to the Governor and the Legislature on the program's outcomes, including the number of participating students, their reading abilities before and after the program, the impact on their academic achievement, and recommendations for potential statewide implementation.