What's happening
This bill requires all New York school districts to conduct annual early dyslexia screenings for students from pre-kindergarten through second grade.
Why it matters
Early identification and intervention. By mandating annual dyslexia screenings from pre-K to second grade, the bill aims to catch learning disabilities early, which is critical for providing timely support and improving long-term educational outcomes.
Standardized, digital assessment. The requirement to use a digital tool with targeted questions ensures a more uniform and potentially more reliable screening process across all school districts, reducing disparities in early detection.
Parental and educator involvement. The legislation mandates that screening results be shared with parents, guardians, teachers, and teaching assistants, encouraging collaborative support and awareness around each child’s needs.
Structured record-keeping and resource provision. Each district must designate a person to maintain educational records and provide resources to families of children showing signs of dyslexia, helping ensure students don’t fall through the cracks and that families are equipped with information and support options.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Screen Kids Early for Dyslexia
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Screen Kids Early for Dyslexia
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Jo Anne Simon
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4341
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to mandatory early screening for dyslexia
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 319 to read as follows:
§ 319. Mandatory early screening for dyslexia. 1. All school districts shall be required to conduct full and individual screenings in accordance with this section for purposes of early identification, support, intervention and accommodation of children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. For purposes of this section, the term "dyslexia" means a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin and that is characterized by unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities, which difficulty typically results from a deficit in the phonological component of language and that is inconsistent with the person's intelligence, motivation, and sensory capabilities and the provision of effective instruction.
2. Mandatory early screening for dyslexia shall be conducted by each school district using a digital assessment tool that includes targeted questions designed to quickly and reliably gather certain relevant functional and developmental information from all children described in this subdivision. Mandatory early screening shall commence during prekindergarten or kindergarten, whichever is earlier, and shall continue thereafter on an annual basis until such child has successfully completed the second grade.
3. Upon completion of the administration of each mandatory early screening, a copy of each early screening report and any other findings shall be given to the parent and/or guardian and teachers and teaching
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08780-05-9
S. 4341 2
assistants of each child, and the individual designated in subdivision four of this section.
4. Each school district shall designate an individual to maintain complete and accurate records, including copies of each early screening report, for all children for the duration of each child's educational pursuit or until such child reaches the age of sixteen, whichever is later. The designated individual shall provide resources and materials to the parent and/or guardian of any child who displays low phonemic awareness and other indications of dyslexia.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to mandatory early screening for dyslexia
Purpose or general idea of bill
This act will establish a pilot program to provide early screening and intervention services for children with risk factors for dyslexia
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends education law section 319 to establish a pilot program that will provide early screening and intervention services for children with risk factors for dyslexia. Section one also provides guidelines for how school districts will be selected and criteria that must be met.
Section one requires participating school districts to make program reports to the commissioner, and provides a definition for dyslexia as a specific learning disorder that is neurological in origin and that is characterized by unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition.
Section two requires the commissioner of education to apply for private and non-state funds for the program and use any funds appropriated for the program.
Section three instructs the commissioner of education to submit a report to the governor and the legislature by the end of the pilot program's third year with evaluations and recommendations.
Section four provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
This pilot program will demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs for children with risk factors for dyslexia. Running a pilot program will help determine whether those programs can reduce future special education costs, and to what extent the program should be expanded.
Fiscal implications
The Commission of education shall apply for private and other non-state funds, and shall use available state funds appropriated to the depart- ment of education for the pilot program established pursuant to section one of this act.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.