PRINTER'S NO. 2636
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
98
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY NEILSON, D. COSTA, HELM, DAVIS, BARRAR, DRISCOLL,
PASHINSKI, MURT, McNEILL, KINSEY, DONATUCCI, WARREN, O'NEILL
AND D. MILLER, OCTOBER 25, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, OCTOBER 25, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further
providing for definitions; in certification of teachers,
further providing for continuing professional development and
for program of continuing professional education; and, in
Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program,
further providing for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by
adding a definition to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--When used in this act the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
* * *
"Dyslexia." A condition that is characterized by difficulty
with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling
and decoding abilities, which characteristics typically result
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from a deficit in one or more processes related to the
phonological component of language, that is often unexpected in
relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of
effective classroom instruction and that may result in problems
in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may
impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 1205.1 and 1205.2 of the act are amended
by adding subsections to read:
Section 1205.1. Continuing Professional Development.--* * *
(c.5) A professional education plan shall include a program
to be completed annually by professional employes for
kindergarten through third grade, reading specialists, English
as a second language teachers and speech-language specialists
that is a minimum of four (4) hours in length and provides
training in the screening, intervention, accommodation and use
of technology for students with reading disabilities, including
dyslexia.
* * *
Section 1205.2. Program of Continuing Professional
Education.--* * *
(c.1) To comply with subsection (a), professional employes
for kindergarten through third grade, reading specialists,
English as a second language teachers and speech-language
specialists employed by a school entity shall complete annually
the training in screening, intervention, accommodation and use
of technology for students with reading disabilities, including
dyslexia, required under section 1205.1(c.5). A professional
educator's continuing education record shall be credited
annually for completion of the training required under this
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subsection.
* * *
Section 3. Sections 1702-C of the act is amended to read:
Section 1702-C. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
["Dyslexia." A condition that is characterized by difficulty
with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling
and decoding abilities, which characteristics typically result
from a deficit in one or more processes related to the
phonological component of language, that is often unexpected in
relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of
effective classroom instruction and that may result in problems
in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may
impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge. The
term shall apply only for purposes of the pilot program.]
"Intensive intervention." Explicit, multisensory, synthetic
phonics instruction and a structured language program delivered
with fidelity by a trained interventionist. The term shall apply
only for purposes of the pilot program.
"Pilot program." The Dyslexia and Early Literacy
Intervention Pilot Program established under this article.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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