Kentucky

State Education Agency (SEA) Dyslexia Legislation

Has Legislation?Yes

Parent Opt-Out/Consent Procedures by Law?
No
SEA Recognizes IDA Definition?
Yes
SEA Recognizes State Definition?
Yes
SEA Has Dyslexia Specialist?
No


HB69 and HR18



HR187 amends KRS Chapter 158 to “define ‘dyslexia’ and ‘qualified dyslexia screening tool’; require the Department of Education to make available a dyslexia toolkit that includes guidance on the instruction of students displaying characteristics of dyslexia; require the Department of Education to collaborate with the Kentucky Collaborative Center for Literacy Development to update professional development for teachers related to dyslexia; require each local board of education to develop policies for identifying and assisting students in kindergarten through grade three with dyslexia and other learning disabilities; require school districts to report data to the Department of Education regarding dyslexia screening and results; require teacher preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia; require the commissioner of education to select three school districts to serve as dynamic laboratories of learning. Amend KRS 158.305 to revise the definition of "dyslexia"; require local boards of education to develop policies related to the implementation of response-to-intervention; require the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, to report to the Interim Joint Committees on Education and Health and Welfare by November 30 of each year regarding school districts' implementation of response-to-intervention.


Screening

Required?Yes

Parents Must Be Notified of Results?
No
SEA Publishes List of Screeners?
Yes
Annual Reporting to the SEA?
Yes
Response to Intervention for Student Learning Disability Eligibility in 2010?
Permitted by law
Severe Discrepancy for Student Learning Disability Eligibility in 2010?
Permitted by law
Student Learning Disability Eligibility (Zirkel & Thomas 2010 Classification)?
RTI permitted, SD and Other permitted via –pattern” (ambiguities in legislation noted)


In Kentucky, local education agencies are required to develop policies for identifying students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, and to report data to the Kentucky Department of Education. The state handbook describes screening in K-2 as typical.


Pre-service

Required?Yes


By 2019-2020, teacher preparation programs must provide training on dyslexia and screening and intervention strategies. See HB187 Section 3 for specific requirements.


In-service

Required?Yes


The Kentucky Department of Education  is charged with collaborating with other agencies to coordinate the provision of professional development related to dyslexia.


Intervention

Required?Yes

Multisensory?
Promoted
Evidence-Based?
Promoted
Explicit/Direct?
Promoted
MTSS/RTI?
Required


According to 158.305, Kentucky Department of Education shall promulgate rules for district-wide use of RTI that addresses the use of tiered interventions.



The state dyslexia guide promotes explicit, multisensory, and evidence-based instruction.


Literacy State-identified Measurable Result (SIMR) - Part B

Has Literacy SIMR?No


Resources


Decoding Dyslexia Kentucky



International Dyslexia Association Kentucky



The Kentucky Department of Education K-3 Dyslexia Toolkit


Citations

Zirkel, P. A., & Thomas, L. B. (2010). State laws for RTI: An updated snapshot. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 56-63.

Gearin, B., Turtura, J., Kame’enui, E. J., Nelson, N. J., & Fien, H. (2018). A Multiple Streams Analysis of Recent Changes to State-Level Dyslexia Education Law. Educational Policy, 0895904818807328.

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Last modified: 
12/05/2023 - 1:36am