STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          1380

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                     January 8, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by M. of A. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Education

        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation  to  requiring  screening
          for  dyslexia  and  providing  for  intervention services for dyslexic
          children

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 4407-a
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 4407-a. Mandatory early screening and special provisions relating to
     4  instruction  of children with dyslexia or other phonological differences
     5  or disabilities. 1. All school districts shall be  required  to  conduct
     6  full  and  individual  screenings  in  accordance  with this section for
     7  purposes of early identification,  support,  intervention  and  accommo-
     8  dation  of  children  with  dyslexia.  For the purposes of this section,
     9  "dyslexia" shall  mean  dyslexia  or  any  other  phonological  learning
    10  difference or disability.
    11    2.  Mandatory  early screening for dyslexia shall be conducted by each
    12  school district using a screening program that is:  (a)  evidence  based
    13  with  proven psychometrics for validity; (b) efficient and low cost; and
    14  (c) readily available. Mandatory early screening shall  commence  during
    15  kindergarten and shall continue thereafter on an annual basis until such
    16  child has successfully completed the second grade.
    17    3.  All  school  districts shall provide intervention services for any
    18  student who is identified as having dyslexia. Such intervention services
    19  shall be small group instruction in multi-sensory sequential phonics  or
    20  another  approved  curriculum  for  children identified to be at risk of
    21  being dyslexic, which shall be taught in addition to any other  instruc-
    22  tion.
    23    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05427-01-1