Idaho Education Association-endorsed legislation to provide student screening, educator training and other resources for dyslexia interventions for students was endorsed by the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
House Bill 731 bill requires screening for dyslexia in kindergarteners through fifth-graders and training for educators to provide “multisensory-structured literacy approaches” for students showing dyslexic characteristics. It received unanimous support for the House of Representatives earlier this week and will likely be considered early next week by the full Senate, where its expected approval will send it to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Peggy Hoy, an IEA board member, National Education Association director and middle school instructional coach in Twin Falls, testified in favor of the bill on behalf of IEA members in the Senate committee.
“Every experienced educator in Idaho has likely come up against the unique challenges that dyslexia poses for many students,” Hoy said. “Because dyslexia is neurological, students need to learn strategies at a young age. Early diagnosis allows them to learn life-long strategies that will help them overcome the challenges dyslexia presents.”
Hoy also offered IEA assistance to the Idaho Department of Education help develop the training to ensure all educators can receive the training with the legislation’s ambitious two-year timeframe.
“There’s no question that this bill is good for kids and our members are eager to start learning evidence-based strategies that will support these students as soon as possible,” Hoy told lawmakers.