Pennsylvania

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?
No
SEA Has Dyslexia Specialist?
No

Act 69 (24 P.S. Article XVII-C)

Act 69 provides for a pilot program for dyslexia screening and intervention. The pilot program recognizes IDA’s definition of dyslexia. It also promotes evidence-based core reading programs and screening, and multisensory  and structured interventions. 

Screening

Required?No

Parents Must Be Notified of Results?
No
SEA Publishes List of Screeners?
No
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 guidelines
Student Learning Disability Eligibility (Zirkel & Thomas 2010 Classification)?
RTI permitted, SD permitted only by guidelines

Act 69 created a dyslexia pilot program, but screening is not required by law. The Act specifies that, within the pilot program, schools must notify parents when their child is suspected of having a learning disability. Similarly, schools in the pilot program must report results to the SEA

Pre-service

Required?No

Pennsylvania does not have pre-service legislation related to dyslexia.

In-service

Required?No

Pennsylvania does not have in-service legislation related to dyslexia.

Intervention

Required?No

Multisensory?
Promoted
Evidence-Based?
Promoted

Pennsylvania does not require dyslexia intervention. However, guidelines and procedures for the pilot program shall include:  “(1) Evidence-based core reading programs that incorporate systematic phonemic instruction and develop basic reading skills for all students in the pilot program to use. (2) An evidence-based screening for low phonemic awareness and other evidence-based risk factors for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia. The screening shall be given to all kindergarten students enrolled in the school district three times per school year. The first screening shall be at the beginning of the school year, the second screening during the middle of the school year and the third screening in the final quarter of the school year. (3) Intervention measures, including multisensory structured language programs for students scoring below the benchmark that provide timely targeted instruction and strategic reteaching and intensive intervention in identified areas. (4) Diagnostic assessments for students scoring below the benchmark that are nationally standardized, norm-referenced screening assessments of phonological awareness, alphabetic knowledge, concept of word and grapheme phoneme correspondence. The screening shall be demonstrated to have predictive validity and classification accuracy.

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

Has Literacy SIMR?No

Pennsylvania's SIMR focuses on graduation and drop-out rates.

Resources

Decoding Dyslexia Pennsylvania

International Dyslexia Association Pennsylvania

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: 
10/27/2022 - 4:45pm