Ohio

HB96 and HB157

Ohio HB 157 authorizes professional development related to dyslexia, and a dyslexia specialist. HB 96 amends section 3323.01 of Ohio law and enacts section 3323.25 which defines dyslexia, and which requires a pilot project to provide early screening and intervention services for children with risk factors for dyslexia. Statutes related to dyslexia can be found at: Ohio Laws and Rules.

Ohio does not have dyslexia screening legislation.

According to 3323.25, "The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a pilot project to provide early screening and intervention services for children with risk factors for dyslexia, including low phonemic awareness. The state superintendent shall select three school districts to participate in the pilot project, one of which shall be located in an urban setting, one of which shall be located in a suburban setting, and one of which shall be located in a rural setting. Any school district selected to participate in the pilot project may establish a partnership with a regional library or library system for purposes of the pilot project. To be considered for the pilot project, a school district shall submit a proposal to the state superintendent that identifies a method of screening children for low phonemic awareness and other risk factors for dyslexia, provides for the enrollment of children identified as having risk factors for dyslexia in a reading program staffed by teachers trained in multisensory structured language programs, and includes a methodology for evaluating the effects of the reading program on the children's identified risk factors. The pilot project shall operate for three full school years, beginning with the school year that begins at least three months after the effective date of this section. The goal of the pilot project shall be to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs for children with risk factors for dyslexia and to evaluate whether those programs can reduce future special education costs."

Ohio does not require dyslexia intervention. In 2015, a pilot study concluded on the effectiveness of early screening and interventions using multisensory structured language instruction for children at risk for reading failure, including students exhibiting risk factors for dyslexia. Further, HB 157 provides that schools can contract with educational service centers statewide to provide training in evidence-based reading instruction and multisensory structured language instruction.