Public Act 0617 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4369 Enrolled LRB100 17064 AXK 32215 b

Public Act 100-0617

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 2-3.161 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.161)

Sec. 2-3.161. Definition of dyslexia; reading instruction advisory group; handbook.

(a) The State Board of Education shall incorporate, in both general education and special education, the following definition of dyslexia:

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

(b) Subject to specific State appropriation or the availability of private donations, the State Board of Education shall establish an advisory group to develop a training module or training modules to provide education and professional development to teachers, school administrators, and other education professionals regarding multi-sensory, systematic, and sequential instruction in reading. This advisory group shall complete its work before December 15, 2015 and is abolished on December 15, 2015. The State Board of Education shall reestablish the advisory group abolished on December 15, 2015 to complete the abolished group's work. The reestablished advisory group shall complete its work before December 31, 2016 and is abolished on December 31, 2016. The provisions of this subsection (b), other than this sentence, are inoperative after December 31, 2016.

(c) The State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a handbook to be made available on its Internet website that provides guidance for pupils, parents or guardians, and teachers on the subject of dyslexia. The handbook shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) guidelines for teachers and parents or guardians on how to identify signs of dyslexia;

(2) a description of educational strategies that have been shown to improve the academic performance of pupils with dyslexia; and

(3) a description of resources and services available to pupils with dyslexia, parents or guardians of pupils with dyslexia, and teachers.

The State Board shall review the handbook once every 4 years to update, if necessary, the guidelines, educational strategies, or resources and services made available in the handbook.

(Source: P.A. 99-65, eff. 7-16-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-602, eff. 7-22-16; 99-603, eff. 7-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.