Two bills recently passed under the House will allow students within Michigan to be screened for dyslexia.
The article was published by the Detroit Free Press.This past Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, the Michigan House of Representatives approved two bills that have an aim of strengthening reading instruction. This comes less than a month after the 2024 M-Step scores depicted that 60% of third graders failed the state mandated reading assessment.
These bills are years in the making and are part of a larger effort to enhance reading outcomes within Michigan, which have been a concern among educational advocates as well as law makers. Additionally, the state is investing in increased training of reading instruction that is rooted in the science of reading which is a body of research that demonstrates how children most effectively learn to read.
These two bills include Senate Bill 567, which was introduced by Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor. This bill requires schools to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia as well as other reading difficulties by the 2027-28 school year. The second bill, Senate Bill 568 was introduced by Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia. This bill requires the implementation of teacher preparation programs that include instruction on dyslexia and the identification of its characteristics.
Although these bills serve as great progress, according to experts, the state’s work is likely not completed yet. Research shows that the type of reading instruction a student within Michigan receives depends largely on the public school they attend, highlighting the need to ensure equal instruction across the state. Also, heightened concern over the steadily decreasing reading scores make it evident that lots of work needs to be done.
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