Public Act 100-0617

HB4369 Enrolled LRB100 17064 AXK 32215 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section

2-3.161 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.161)

Sec. 2-3.161. Definition of dyslexia; reading instruction

advisory group; handbook.

(a) The State Board of Education shall incorporate, in both

general education and special education, the following

definition of dyslexia:

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is

neurobiological in origin. Dyslexia is characterized by

difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition

and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These

difficulties typically result from a deficit in the

phonological component of language that is often

unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the

provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary

consequences may include problems in reading comprehension

and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of

vocabulary and background knowledge.

(b) Subject to specific State appropriation or the

availability of private donations, the State Board of Education

shall establish an advisory group to develop a training module

or training modules to provide education and professional

development to teachers, school administrators, and other

education professionals regarding multi-sensory, systematic,

and sequential instruction in reading. This advisory group

shall complete its work before December 15, 2015 and is

abolished on December 15, 2015. The State Board of Education

shall reestablish the advisory group abolished on December 15,

2015 to complete the abolished group's work. The reestablished

advisory group shall complete its work before December 31, 2016

and is abolished on December 31, 2016. The provisions of this

subsection (b), other than this sentence, are inoperative after

December 31, 2016.

(c) The State Board of Education shall develop and maintain

a handbook to be made available on its Internet website that

provides guidance for pupils, parents or guardians, and

teachers on the subject of dyslexia. The handbook shall

include, but is not limited to:

(1) guidelines for teachers and parents or guardians on

how to identify signs of dyslexia;

(2) a description of educational strategies that have

been shown to improve the academic performance of pupils

with dyslexia; and

(3) a description of resources and services available

to pupils with dyslexia, parents or guardians of pupils

with dyslexia, and teachers.

The State Board shall review the handbook once every 4

years to update, if necessary, the guidelines, educational

strategies, or resources and services made available in the

handbook.

(Source: P.A. 99-65, eff. 7-16-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-602,

eff. 7-22-16; 99-603, eff. 7-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

becoming law.