Assigned to ED AS
ENACTED
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, First Regular Session
FINAL REVISED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2202
schools; dyslexia; handbook; definition
Purpose
Allows the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to develop and maintain a dyslexia handbook that provides guidance for students, parents and teachers.
Background
Dyslexia is classified as a specific learning disability and defined as a brain-based learning difference that impairs a person's ability to read and spell, that is independent of intelligence and that typically causes a person to read at levels lower than expected (A.R.S. § § 15-701 and 15-761). Characteristics of dyslexia can include the following: 1) difficulty learning to rhyme words; 2) confusion of letters and words with similar visual appearance; 3) difficulty pronouncing some multisyllabic words correctly; and 4) slow word perception that affects reading rate and fluency.
Currently, ADE and the State Board of Education (SBE) are working on the development of a dyslexia guidance document.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation. ADE estimates the development and maintenance of the handbook would cost $30,000 per year.
Provisions
1. Allows ADE, subject to SBE approval, to develop and maintain a handbook that provides guidance for students, parents and teachers regarding dyslexia.
2. Includes the following in the handbook:
a) guidelines for teachers and parents to identify dyslexia;
b) a description of educational strategies that have been shown to improve the academic performance of students with dyslexia; and
c) a description of dyslexia resources and services that are available to students, parents and teachers.
3. Redefines dyslexia.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Makes structural changes to the definition of dyslexia.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Makes a technical change to the definition of dyslexia.
Amendments Adopted by Conference Committee
1. Allows, rather than requires, ADE to maintain a dyslexia handbook.
2. Makes a technical change.
House Action Senate Action
ED 1/17/17 DP 11-0-0-0 ED 3/02/17 DPA 7-0-0
3rd Read 2/09/17 56-2-2 3rd Read 3/20/17 27-2-1
Signed by the Governor 4/26/17
Chaptered 194
Prepared by Senate Research
May 4, 2017
BF/CB/jn