Provides that the state Department of Education may develop and maintain a handbook for use in the schools of this state that provides guidance for pupils, parents and teachers concerning dyslexia.
The handbook shall include the following:
1. Guidelines for teachers and parents to identify dyslexia.
2. A description of educational strategies that have been shown to improve the academic performance of pupils with dyslexia.
3. A description of resources and services that are available to pupils with dyslexia and to teachers and parents of pupils with dyslexia.
Also, redefines dyslexia as a condition that:
1. Is neurological in origin.
2. Is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities, including difficulties that typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and to the provision of effective classroom instruction.
3. May include secondary consequences such as problems with reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
