2016 -- H 7054

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LC003241

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCREENING FOR READING DISABILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, Amore, Hull, Regunberg, and Handy

     Date Introduced: January 07, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 106

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SCREENING FOR READING DISABILITIES ACT

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     16-106-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Screening

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for Reading Disabilities Act".

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     16-106-2. Definitions. – The following words and phrases shall have the following

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meanings when used in this chapter.

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     (1) "Potential indicators of dyslexia or other reading disabilities" means indicators that

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include, but shall not be limited to, difficulty in acquiring language skills; inability to comprehend

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oral or written language; difficulty in rhyming words; difficulty in naming letters, recognizing

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letters, matching letters to sounds, and blending sounds when speaking and reading words;

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difficulty recognizing and remembering sight words; consistent transposition of number

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sequences, letter reversals, inversions, and substitutions; and trouble in replication of content.

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     16-106-3. Distribution of information on screening instruments. – (a) The

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commissioner of education shall distribute to each school district information on screening

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instruments available to identify students who possess one or more potential indicators of

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dyslexia or other reading disabilities pursuant to this chapter. The commissioner shall provide

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information on the screening instruments appropriate for kindergarten through second grade

 

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students and on screening instruments that may be suitably used for older students. Each school

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district shall select and implement age appropriate screening instruments for the early diagnosis

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of dyslexia and other reading disabilities.

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     (b) The commissioner shall develop and distribute to each school district guidance on

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appropriate intervention strategies for students diagnosed with dyslexia or other reading

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disabilities.

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     16-106-4. Screening for dyslexia and other reading disabilities. – (a) A school district

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shall ensure that each student enrolled in the school district who has exhibited one or more

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potential indicators of dyslexia or other reading disabilities is screened for dyslexia and other

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reading disabilities using a screening instrument selected pursuant to this chapter no later than the

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student's completion of the first semester or trimester of the second grade.

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     (b) In the event that a student who would have been enrolled in kindergarten or grade one

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or two (2) during or after the 2016-2017 school year enrolls in the district in kindergarten or

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grades one through six (6) during or after the 2017-2018 school year and has no record of being

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previously screened for dyslexia or other reading disabilities pursuant to this chapter, the school

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district shall ensure that the newly-enrolled student is screened for dyslexia and other reading

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disabilities using a screening instrument selected pursuant to this chapter at the same time other

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students enrolled in the student's grade are screened for dyslexia and other reading disabilities, or,

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if other students enrolled in the student's grade have previously been screened, within ninety (90)

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calendar days of the date the student is enrolled.

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     (c) The screening required by this chapter shall be administered by a teacher or other

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teaching staff member properly trained in the screening process for dyslexia and other reading

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disabilities.

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     16-106-5. Comprehensive assessment for the learning disorder. – In the event that a

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student is determined through screening conducted pursuant to this chapter to possess one or

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more potential indicators of dyslexia or other reading disabilities, the school district shall ensure

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that the student receives a comprehensive assessment for the learning disorder. In the event that a

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diagnosis of dyslexia or other reading disability is confirmed by the comprehensive assessment,

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the school district shall provide appropriate evidence-based intervention strategies to the student,

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including intensive instruction on phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency, vocabulary, and

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reading comprehension.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall be implemented at the

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commencement of the 2016-2017 school year.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCREENING FOR READING DISABILITIES

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     This act would require school districts to conduct screening for dyslexia and other

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reading disabilities of school children who have exhibited one or more potential indicators using

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certain screening methods selected by the commissioner of education.

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     This act would take effect upon passage and would be implemented at the

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commencement of the 2016-2017 school year.

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