Dyslexia State Polices - Dyslexia Voice

Includes state legislative, regulatory, administrative and school district efforts to educate students

with dyslexia in the United States. Also includes state literacy laws on reading (which includes dyslexia).

Type of legislation/regulation	Enacted Prior to 2015	2015 Enacted	2016 Enacted	2017 Enacted	2018 Enacted	Total Enacted
Early screening/identification *Mandatory Universal Screening in K	AR, CO, KS, LA, MS, NJ, TX, VA, WY	AL, CT, ME, MN, NV, OR	MO, NH, RI, SC, TN	TX	WA
In-service professional development	AR, CO, IA, IL, MS, NJ, NM, OH, OK, TN, WA	CT, IN, ME, MN, NV, OR	MO, RI, SC, NH, VA	CT, VA
Higher education, teacher training/requirements/opportunities	AR, CO, CT, IA, *MA, NJ, OH, OK, OR, TN, TX, VA	CT, OR	CT, VA, IA, RI, SC, NH	AR, CT, OK	VA, NE
Intervention requirements / Recommendations	AR, DE, LA, MS, NM, TX, WY	AL, CA, ME, MN, NV	RI, TN, SC		WA, NE
Define Dyslexia	AR, IA, IL, KY, MO, MS, NJ, NM, OH, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV	AL, AZ, CA, CT, IN, ME, MN, NV, WV, UT	MO, RI, SC, NH	NE
Accommodations, assistive technology, supports	LA, TX		MO
Dyslexia Handbook / DOE Guidance / RtI Handbook	AR, CO, KS, LA, MS, NM, SD, TX, WA	AL. CA, NV, MN	NH, MD, VA, NE	OK, NY, NH, NJ
Dyslexia Task Force & Reports / Commission / Advisory Council	AR, FL, HI, LA, NJ, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, VA, IL	AL, MD, NH, RI	MD, MO, TN, UT (not through legislation but state board of ed.)	OK	IA
Pilot Programs & Reports	HI, IN, MS, OH*, PA, WA	MD, UT	MD
Awareness	HI, NJ, PA, VA	LA, MS, VA	NH, VA
Student Transfers	MS
Scholarships/Tax Credits / Teaching Credits for Dyslexia PD	MO, MS	AZ, MN
Licensing Requirements	CT, TX	IN	CT, VA, IA	CT, IA, VA, AR, IL
Entrance Exam Waivers for College	PA. MA
Dyslexia Specialist / Coordinator	AR, MS, VA	OR, CT, ME, MO,	NH	VA, MN
Funding	DE, MS, TX, VA	OR, UT, MN		MN
Dyslexia Exemption from 3rd Grade Retention Laws	OH	AZ
Certification / Assessment requirements in foundational reading (16 states)	CT, MA, NC, NH, WI			AR
Reporting Requirements (#screened, provided intervention, #dyslexia, etc.)	MS, TX		TN, SC	AR
Enacted Totals
Total 2018 Enacted:					VA
Total 2017 Enacted:	CT, TX, OK,			CT, VA
Total 2016 Enacted:	CT, IA, MD, MO, NH, RI, TN, SC, VA		CT, IA, MD, MO, NH, RI, TN, SC, VA
Total 2015 Enacted:	AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, IN, LA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS*, NH, NV, OK, OR, UT
Total Enacted Dyslexia Leg/Reg:	AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY
*States with Comprehensive Dyslexia Laws:	AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, LA, ME, MN, MS, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, TN, TX, WA		RI, SC	VA

*Massachusetts "laws" are specifically for phonemic awareness (etc.) not “dyslexia” for pre-service training, with one law for not requiring SAT/ACT for applicants with dyslexia.

*Connecticut pre-service is limited to “not fewer than 12 clock hours of instruction”.

*AR, LA, MS: Arkansas 2015 legislation reduced efficacy; LA and MS bills were awareness only

*Comprehensive elements include: screening, definition, interventions, pre-service teacher preparation, in-service professional development, accommodations, or a dyslexia/literacy pilot. Comprehensive efforts include at least 3/6 elements through legislative or regulatory efforts.

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