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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; dyslexia and literacy services
Purpose
Appropriates $2,500,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2022 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for dyslexia and literacy services.
Background
Statute requires ADE to develop a dyslexia screening plan 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).
ADE must administer a K-3 reading program to improve the reading proficiency of pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three in Arizona public schools. 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).
ADE must annually develop a list of training opportunities related to dyslexia that meet professional development requirements and all of the following requirements: 1) include at least one training opportunity that is provided entirely online; 2) include the ADE-designated knowledge and practice standards of an international organization on dyslexia; 3) enable teachers to understand and recognize dyslexia; and 4) enable teachers to implement structured literacy instruction that is systematic, explicit, multisensory and evidence-based to meet the educational needs of students with dyslexia (A.R.S. § 15-219).
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). 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).
S.B. 1292 appropriates $2,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to ADE.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $2,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to ADE to:
a) designate a dyslexia specialist for ADE to provide school districts and charter schools with support and resources;
b) develop a list of training opportunities related to dyslexia;
c) implement a dyslexia screening plan;
d) provide early literacy professional development to Arizona teachers;
e) improve the reading proficiency of K-3 pupils, including administering the K-3 Reading Program; and
f) gather, aggregate, and analyze statewide early literacy and dyslexia data.
2. Directs ADE to distribute the monies to school districts and charter schools to:
a) provide additional funding to support pupils with dyslexia and other language-based learning struggles;
b) enhance professional development and expand teacher training opportunities;
c) improve screening measures and intervention materials;
d) procure dyslexia screening assessment tools from ADE-approved vendors; and
e) provide intensive instruction for pupils who meet outlined criteria.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 28, 2021
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