Thanks Martha Youman and Nancy Mather for their Update on Dyslexia Laws 2018.

Download pdf HERE.

The paper is also available on Research Gate here.

Check out how things compare with 2017 below.

Here’s our 2017 snapshot of Passed Dyslexia Laws in the US. This is rapidly changing time for dyslexia legislation, so please update us with corrections, changes, or newly passed laws. Huge thanks to the Dyslexic Advantage Community, Decoding Dyslexia, and other leading dyslexia groups. Last Updated October 13, 2017.

Only 8 states have no dyslexia laws on the books, but there’s some pending legislation too.  : )

NO LAWS: Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota.

Remember even if your state doesn’t have a Dyslexia law, federal law including the Department of Education formally rcognizes Dyslexia and has stated that there is no reason it shouldn’t be included in special education documents like the IEP. PLEASE UPDATE US IF NEW LAWS ARE PASSED! We would like to keep this as current as possible. Addendum: Congratulations Virginia and New Hampshire  for their new laws.

Alabama 2015 Dyslexia added to Alabama Administrative Code
Alaska – NONE.
Arizona- 2015. S.B. 1461 Definition of Dyslexia, Continuing Education for Teachers, Dyslexia Exemption for 3rd Grade Retention Law
Arkansas- 2013. Act 1294 Meeting the Needs of Children with Dyslexia in Public Schools
California- A.B. 1369 Identification and assessment, program for to improve educational programs for dyslexia prepared.
Colorado – H.B.1223 Training and identification.
Connecticut- 2016. 2015. 2014. An Act Concerning Dyslexia. Assessment and Teaching / Reading Tutor Training. Public Act 16-92. Public Act 15-97.  Public Act 14-39.
Delaware- 2015. An Act to Amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code Relating to the Education of Students with Disabilities. Severe dyslexic students can waive state assessments. Evidence-based interventions.
Florida– 2017. HB 7069. Evidence-based and systematic, sequential, and multi sensory strategies added to Florida Educator Practices. Teacher renewals must include “explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. Teachers, reading coaches, school administrators taught to recognize dyslexia. 2015. John McKay Scholarships for IEP or 504 student to a ttend a public school other than assigned or private school for students with learning disabilities. State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.03018. Reading First.
Georgia – None.
Hawaii- 2010. S.B. 2217 Promotes awareness of dyslexia, assessment and identification, curriculum, interventions, training.
Idaho– NONE
Illinois– 2014. HB. 3700. Assessment, professional development, intervention. Indiana- 2015. H.B. 1108. Defines dyslexia and requires professional training programs.
Iowa – 2016. ARC 2586c. Change in the Iowa Administrative Code to require teachers to know about dyslexia and the structure of language. 2014. Senate File 2319.
Kansas – 2008. H.B. 5015. Screening, best practices for instruction, teacher prep – unfortunately this bill failed.
Kentucky– 2012. H.B. 69. Includes dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalcaulia, phonemic awareness.
Louisiana- 2013. (R.S. 17:7:11) identification, assessment, intervention, accommodations.
Maine – 2015. LD 231. Definition, screening, consultant.
Maryland – 2015. H.B. 278 Dyslexia Task Force. Task Force only. No requirements for teacher training or student screening.
Massachusetts -Massachusetts General Law Chapter 15A Section 30. No resident of the commonwealth of MA with a developmental disability (including dyslexia or other SLD) should be required to take a standardized college entrance exam for a public-funded higher education institution.
Michigan – NONE In 2016, Governor signed the 3rd Grade reading retention law.
Minnesota – Revised Dyslexia Definition. K-12 Bill.The department must employ a dyslexia specialist. Dyslexia screening tool.
Mississippi– 2012. H.B. 1031. Scholarship to provide dyslexic students with school choice.
Missouri– 2016. H.B. 2379 and S.B. 638. Screening for dyslexia and task force. 2012. H.B. 1031. Dyslexia therapy scholarship to attend a different public school or non-public school for multisensory education.
Montana– None. Montana Office of Public Instruction did add dyslexia to their special education guide.
Nebraska– Dyslexia Assistance Document   Dyslexia Definition Revised. 
Nevada– 2015. AB 341 and SB 391. Dyslexia screening and intervention.
New Hampshire– Passed HB 1644. AN ACT relative to screening and treatment for dyslexia and related disorders and establishing a reading specialist in the department of education.
New Jersey-2014. PL2013 c 131, 105, 210. Dyslexia definition, minimum professional development, and screening for learning disabilities.
New Mexico– 2010. HB 2010.  o dyslexia, provide phonics-based tutoring as part of RTI.
New York- 2017. A08262. Guidance memorandum to all districts on dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
North Carolina–2017. SB149  Dyslexia in the Education Code. Requires State Board to develop tools to ensure the identification of students with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Dyslexia Topic Brief.
North Dakota– None.
Ohio– 2011.  Dyslexia training for k-4 teachers. Pilot project for intervention (year 3 finishes Oct 2015).
Oklahoma- 2017. Dyslexia Task Force
Oregon – 2017 More dyslexia screening. Timeline changes to HB 2412. 2015. H.B. 2412. SB 612. Teacher training, dyslexia screening, dyslexia specialist.
Pennsylvania– 2014. A.B.69 Dyslexia screening and early literacy pilot program.
Rhode Island – 2016. H7052. Improve the performance of students with dyslexia in math, reading, and writing. 2012. H 7542. Definition and intervention.
South Carolina– 2013. South Carolina Task Force Report.
South Dakota– None.
Tennessee– 2016. Say Dyslexia Law. Advisory committee, universal screening (through RTI or other), professional development.  2014. HB 1735 / SB 2002. Dyslexia is Real Bill.
Texas-2014 (Handbook). 2009. 1995. Dyslexia Screening and Treatment, Licensed Therapists. Dyslexia Handbook.
Utah– 2015. HB. 117 Pilot programs for professional development, literacy interventions K-5.
Vermont- In 2362.2.5, dyslexia is listed under special education. Eligibility for special education is specified.
Virginia- 2016. HB 842.  New teacher training in dyslexia.2017. SB1516. Dyslexia advisor in every school district.
Washington-  2009. RCW 28A.300.530 Individuals with Dyslexia – identification and Instruction. Handbook.
West Virginia– 2014. Definition of Dyslexia Dyscalculia.
Wisconsin–2016. Education Guidance Document. 2014.  Foundations of Reading Guide. Teacher Tests for new licenses
Wyoming–2012. S.B. Assessment and intervention.

Other Resources: Decoding Dyslexia MD Dyslegia Decoding-Dyslexia-State-Laws