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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
literacy; dyslexia; screening; appropriations
Purpose
Establishes additional certification requirements in reading instruction and modifies implementation timelines. Appropriates $1,080,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2021 to support increased pupil screening, professional development for teachers and to augment current reading programs.
Background
Dyslexia is a condition of neurological origin that is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities (A.R.S. § 15-701). The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) develops and maintains the Dyslexia Handbook to provide pupils, parents and teachers guidance on the identification of dyslexia, strategies to improve academic performance and available resources and services (Dyslexia Handbook).
Statute directs ADE to develop a dyslexia screening plan by July 1, 2020, that ensures each student in kindergarten or grade one in an Arizona public school is screened for indicators of dyslexia, provides guidance for parental notification and is developed collaboratively with the ADE‑designated dyslexia specialist and other experts. Screening for indicators of dyslexia is based on: 1) phonological and phonemic awareness; 2) rapid naming skills; 3) correspondence between sounds and letters; 4) nonsense word repetition; and 5) sound symbol recognition (A.R.S. § 15-704).
A dyslexia specialist must be designated by ADE to provide school districts and charter schools with support and resources to assist students with dyslexia. By July 1, 2021, at least one kindergarten through grade three (K-3) teacher at each district and charter school must receive training related to dyslexia (A.R.S. § 15-211). Additionally, all applicants for certification for common school instruction must complete at least 45 classroom hours or three college-level credit hours in systematic phonics instruction and reading instruction, including training on assessments, instructional practices and interventions to improve student reading proficiency (A.R.S. § 15-501.01).
Laws 2019, Chapter 198 created the Study Committee on Dyslexia Screening, Intervention and Funding for Pupils Identified as Having Indicators of Dyslexia (Committee), which held five public hearings and recommended that the Legislature: 1) amend the indicators used in dyslexia screening; 2) amend the timeframe for ADE to develop a dyslexia screening plan and for schools to implement dyslexia training for teachers; 3) establish a regional training model to increase capacity for teacher training and enhance awareness of the indicators of dyslexia; 4) increase annual funding to ADE for additional employees to address the implementation of dyslexia screening, to provide early literacy professional development for teachers, to augment the Move on When Reading program, and to gather, aggregate, and analyze statewide data; 5) provide additional funding to enhance professional development and expand teacher training opportunities, improve screening measures and intervention materials and provide intensive instruction for specific students; 6) consider adding a reading exam to the certification process to ensure candidates for elementary education certification are prepared for reading instruction; and 7) add course requirements to university curriculum and training to support teaching the science of reading.
S.B. 1491 appropriates $1,080,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 to support pupil screening, provide professional development for teachers and augment current reading programs.
Provisions
Dyslexia Screening Plan and Implementation
1. Delays, from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, the requirement for ADE to develop a dyslexia screening plan.
2. Includes nonsense word fluency, instead of nonsense word repetition, in the indicators prescribed for dyslexia screening.
3. Delays, from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022, the requirement for each school district and charter school to ensure that at least one K-3 teacher receives dyslexia training at each school.
Certification Requirements
4. Requires that certification applicants for common school instruction complete at least 45 classroom hours or three college-level credit hours in additional, research-based science of reading instruction.
5. Requires the subject knowledge test for early childhood and elementary education to include an examination on reading instruction to prepare certification candidates.
Appropriation
6. Appropriates $800,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 and each subsequent year to ADE for distribution to school districts and charters for pupil screening for indicators of dyslexia.
7. Appropriates $280,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 and each subsequent year to ADE for:
a) adding three full-time employee positions to implement the dyslexia screening plan and a K-3 reading program;
b) providing professional development in early literacy for Arizona teachers;
c) augmenting the reading programs established by the dyslexia screening plan, a K-3 reading program and reading competency requirements;
d) gathering, aggregating and analyzing statewide data for early literacy and dyslexia; and
e) establishing a regional training model for teacher training and enhancing awareness of the indicators of dyslexia.
8. Exempts the appropriations as outlined from lapsing.
Miscellaneous
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 21, 2020
JO/gs