A05613
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
776
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, KILLION, BARTOLOTTA, GREENLEAF, COSTA,
HUGHES, BLAKE, BREWSTER, SABATINA, FARNESE, VULAKOVICH,
MENSCH AND BROWNE, JUNE 16, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 16, 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; and, in Dyslexia and Early
Literacy Intervention Pilot Program, further providing for
definitions and for establishment of program.
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
from a deficit in one or more processes related to the
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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 1702-C and 1703-C(b) and (c) of the act
are 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.
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Section 1703-C. Establishment.
* * *
(b) Program operation.--The pilot program shall operate for
[three] five full school years, beginning with the school year
that begins at least six months after the effective date of this
article.
* * *
(c) Eligibility.--The department shall select at least
[three] eight school districts to participate in the pilot
program. To be eligible for the pilot program:
(1) A school district must enroll [3,000 to] no more
than 15,000 students and provide full-day kindergarten.
(2) Three months after the effective date of this
section, the school district must submit a proposal to the
department that identifies how it will meet the guidelines of
the pilot program's:
(i) evidence-based core reading program;
(ii) evidence-based method of screening all
kindergarten students;
(iii) evidence-based intervention programs; and
(iv) a methodology for evaluating the effects of the
program on the students' identified risk factors.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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