BILL NUMBER: S5427
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring screening
for dyslexia and providing for intervention services for dyslexic chil-
dren
 
PURPOSE:
To require annual dyslexia screening and instruction for all children,
from kindergarten through 2nd grade.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the education law by adding a new section 4407-a,
which requires all school districts to provide mandatory screening for
the early identification, support, intervention, and accommodation of
dyslexic children. It further mandates that the screening process be
evidence-based, efficient, low-cost, and readily available. It requires
that screening commence in kindergarten and be administered annually
until the successful completion of the second grade. The law also
mandates that all school districts provide intervention services for
students identified as having dyslexia. The required services shall be
in small group settings and provide multisensory, sequential phonics, or
other approved instruction. They shall be administered in addition to
any other instruction.
Section 2: Sets Effective Date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Educational research has shown clearly that many dyslexic children go
without diagnoses and has unequivocally demonstrated that early iden-
tification of dyslexia, coupled with intervention and multisensory
sequential phonics instruction, drastically improves outcomes. By
mandating screening and services, all school districts will be required
to identify and address these children's needs using current, pedagog-
ically approved methodologies.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2021: S7418, Referred to Rules
2022: S7418, Referred to Education
2023: S5206, Referred to Education
2024: S5206, Referred to Education
Assembly
2021: A1380, Referred to Education
2022: A1380, Referred to Education
2023: A408, Referred to Education
2024: A408, Referred to Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.