AN ACT to create and enact two new sections to chapter 15.1-32 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to reading screenings and a dyslexia screening pilot program; to provide for a report to the legislative management; and to provide for an exemption.
Provides as follows:
Reading screening. Each public elementary school shall include in the developing and processing of assessments and screening of reading, the core components of phonetic awareness, decoding, and spelling. The screening also must be offered if requested by a parent, legal guardian, or teacher.
Dyslexia screening – Pilot program. Defines. “Dyslexia” means a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin and characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent recognition of words and poor spelling and decoding abilities, independent of the individual’s general intelligence level. Defines “Specialist trained in dyslexia” as a person with expertise providing training in phonological and phonemic awareness, sound and symbol relationships, alphabet knowledge, rapid naming skills, and encoding and decoding skill; who is fluent in the dyslexia intervention process; and who training in identifying dyslexia. Creates a 3-year pilot program to provide early screening and intervention services for children with risk factors for dyslexia, including low phonemic awareness.
