H.B. 171

1

DYSLEXIA SCREENING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: John Knotwell
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6 Cosponsor:Jacob L. Anderegg 7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill requires reading assessments and screening for learning difficulties in public
11 schools.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . defines terms;
15 . requires the State Board of Education to develop a list of indicators that indicate
16 whether a student may be at risk for a reading difficulty or dyslexia;
17 . requires a school district or charter school to provide a reading difficulties screening
18 to each student to identify students who may be at risk for a reading difficulty or
19 dyslexia;
20 . requires a school district or charter school to perform or recommend an assessment
21 for certain students at risk for a reading difficulty or dyslexia; and
22 . requires a school district or charter school that determines that a student has a
23 reading difficulty or dyslexia to:
24 . prepare an individualized education program for the student; and
25 . administer appropriate interventions to address the student's identified reading
26 difficulty or dyslexia.

27 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
28 None
29 Other Special Clauses:
30 This bill take effect on July 1, 2013.
31 Utah Code Sections Affected:
32 ENACTS:
33 53A-1-606.8, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34
35 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36 Section 1. Section 53A-1-606.8 is enacted to read:
37 53A-1-606.8. Reading screening and assessments to identify dyslexia and related
38 reading difficulties -- IEP required for students with reading difficulties.
39 (1) As used in this section:
40 (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
41 (b) "Dyslexia" means a learning disability that impairs a student's fluency or
42 comprehension accuracy in reading, manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or
43 spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and sociocultural opportunity.
44 (c) "Individualized education program" or "IEP" means a written statement for a
45 student eligible for special education services that is developed, reviewed, and revised in
46 accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.
47 (d) "Reading difficulties screening" means a screening to identify a student as at risk
48 for a reading difficulty or dyslexia as required in Subsection (3).
49 (e) "Reading difficulty" means a disorder related or similar to dyslexia including
50 developmental auditory imperceptions, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia,
51 developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
52 (2) The board shall develop a list of indicators that indicate whether a student may be
53 at risk for dyslexia or a reading difficulty, including the following:
54 (a) failure to understand that words come apart;
55 (b) difficulty learning letter names and corresponding sounds;
56 (c) difficulty decoding single words;
57 (d) difficulty spelling phonetically;

58 (e) reading dysfluently; and
59 (f) reliance on context to recognize a word.
60 (3) (a) In accordance with the requirements of Sections 53A-1-606.5 , 53A-1-606.6 , and
61 53A-1-606.7 , a school district or charter school shall provide a reading difficulties screening to
62 each student to identify students who are at risk for a reading difficulty or dyslexia.
63 (b) The reading difficulties screening described in Subsection (3)(a) shall include an
64 assessment to identify the indicators, as developed by the board as required in Subsection (2),
65 that a student may be at risk for a reading difficulty or dyslexia.
66 (4) If a school district or charter school identifies a student as at risk for a reading
67 difficulty or dyslexia through the reading difficulties screening, the school district or charter
68 school shall perform, or recommend an assessment to determine, if the student has a reading
69 difficulty or dyslexia.
70 (5) If a school district or charter school determines that a student has a reading
71 difficulty or dyslexia, the school district or charter school shall:
72 (a) prepare an individualized education program for the student; and
73 (b) administer appropriate interventions to address the student's identified reading
74 difficulty or dyslexia.
75 Section 2. Effective date.
76 This bill take effect on July 1, 2013.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-15-13 4:24 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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