SF 2319 – Early literacy and dyslexia
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2319 is an effort to improve student literacy skills, including addressing dyslexia and providing teacher assistance. Currently, the Iowa Reading Research Center is required to develop and disseminate materials to support teacher effectiveness in student literacy. The bill requires the center to collaborate and coordinate with the area education agencies to develop and offer professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in evidence-based strategies to improve the literacy skills of all students. School districts are currently required to establish a reading enhancement initiative that assists students with a substantial deficiency in reading to develop the skills to read at grade level. A bipartisan amendment requires that assistance include strategies that formally address dyslexia, when appropriate. The Senate accepted a House amendment that struck the name change and the requirement that the Reading Center incorporate the dyslexia work into their roles and responsibilities. [4/2: 48-0 (Houser, Sinclair excused)]