STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
441--C
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN, HINCHEY, JACKSON, MYRIE, SKOUFIS -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted
to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT in relation to establishing a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
of
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Dyslexia and dysgraphia task force. 1. The commissioner of
2 education shall establish a task force to examine appropriate and effec-
3 tive evidence-based dyslexia and dysgraphia screening methods, reading
4 interventions, and other educational supports for students in kindergar-
5 ten through grade five. The task force shall consist of at least ten
6 members, including the commissioner of education or their designee, who
7 shall serve as chair of the task force. The remaining members shall be
8 appointed by the commissioner of education in such a manner to ensure
9 that all regions of the state are represented, and shall include: (a) at
10 least two members who specialize in identifying, evaluating, and diag-
11 nosing individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (b) at least one member
12 who specializes in educating individuals with dyslexia or dysgraphia;
13 (c) at least one member who is a parent of a student with dyslexia or
14 dysgraphia; (d) at least one member with dyslexia or dysgraphia; (e) at
15 least one member from an institute of higher education who is an expert
16 in dyslexia or dysgraphia; and (f) at least one member who is a public
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02478-15-2
S. 441--C 2
1 school teacher who specializes in teaching literacy and evidence-based
2 reading instruction. All members shall have expertise in fields or
3 disciplines related to the identification of students with learning
4 disabilities including the unique educational needs of students with
5 dyslexia or dysgraphia.
6 2. The task force shall conduct at least two public hearings for the
7 purpose of obtaining information from stakeholders and other interested
8 parties including but not limited to speech pathologists, reading
9 specialists, teachers, school administrators, and parents.
10 3. The task force shall prepare and submit a report of its findings
11 and recommendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate
12 and speaker of the assembly eighteen months after the effective date of
13 this act.
14 4. For the purposes of this act, the term "screening methods" may
15 include examining the use and frequency of dyslexia or dysgraphia
16 screeners that are valid, reliable, low cost, and developmentally appro-
17 priate that measure deficits in areas including: (a) phonological aware-
18 ness; (b) phonological or language-based memory; (c) rapid automatic
19 naming; (d) receptive vocabulary; (e) phonics skills; (f) decoding and
20 encoding real and pseudo-words; (g) oral reading fluency; and (h) writ-
21 ing at the sentence and paragraph level. Such screeners shall be inclu-
22 sive of students with diverse racial, linguistic, and socio-economic
23 backgrounds, and factor familial history.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023 and shall expire and
25 be deemed repealed August 1, 2024.
