(ATLANTA) – Today, the Georgia Senate passed a bill which requires the State Board of Education to develop policies for identifying dyslexia in Georgia’s students.
Senate Bill 48 was authored by Senate Education Committee Chairman P.K. Martin of Lawrenceville. The legislation calls for the preparation of a statewide screening program for all Kindergarten students and an additional referral system targeting students in grades one through three.
“Dyslexia impacts up to 20% of our population yet tends to be overlooked as a serious issue facing our students.” says Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. He says the provisions in SB 48 will help to detect dyslexia earlier – and at higher rates – leading to “quicker remediation and greater success in the classroom.”
In addition to screenings and referrals, the measure would create a pilot program for early reading assistance programs. It also would help better prepare teachers to deal with dyslexia.
Through the legislation, Martin says, “we’re taking important steps to help Georgia’s dyslexic students attain lasting success.”
Senate Bill 48 will now head to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.
