Policy and Advocacy Dr. Julie Collins
Oklahoma Policy and Advocacy Oklahoma Education Legislative Updates The first regular session of the 58th Oklahoma State Legislature took place Spring 2021. Legislation considered included bills which did not receive adequate attention or complete the legislative process during the COVID affected legislative session during 2020, as well as new bills. This column will summarize important legislation affecting education in Oklahoma, a review of pertinent previous legislation affecting reading education, and information about legislative interim studies being held this fall. Recent Legislation Regarding Reading Education Over the past four years, legislation was passed that updated professional development and assessment in reading for teachers in Oklahoma. These new laws are aimed at helping teachers learn about dyslexia, how to identify it, and how to intervene with students who have dyslexia. House Bill 2008, authored by Representatives McCall and Baker and Senator Stanislawski in 2017, created the Dyslexia Task Force. This task force was charged with creating the Dyslexia Handbook to provide guidance to schools, students, and parents in identification, intervention, and providing support to students with dyslexia. House Bill 3313, authored by Representatives Baker, Mike Osburn, and Tammy West, and Senators Bice and Pittman in 2018, extended the deadline for the work of the task force. The task force was created and worked during the 20182019 year to create the Oklahoma Dyslexia Handbook, which was presented to leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature and the Governor on July 1, 2019. House Bill 1228, authored by Representatives Sanders, Albright, Josh West, Boles, Townley, Lawson, and McCall, and Senators Smalley, Kirt, Hicks, Haste, Bullard, and Bice in 2019, amended the law requiring professional development programs in schools. The new section of the law required a dyslexia awareness program be provided annually beginning with the 20202021 school year. This professional development should address training in awareness of characteristics of dyslexia, effective classroom instruction to meet the needs of students with dyslexia, and available resources for teachers, students, and parents. House Bill 2804, authored by Representatives Sanders, Albright, Conley, Townley, Davis, and Hill, and Senator Bice in 2020, requires screening for dyslexia. Annually, beginning in the 20222023 school year, any child in kindergarten through third grade who is found not to be meeting grade-level targets in reading following the beginning of the year assessments under the Reading Sufficiency Act will be screened for dyslexia. Screening for dyslexia may also be requested by a parent or guardian or certain school personnel. The Oklahoma State Board of Education was charged with developing policies for the screening. The Board was also charged with adopting a
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