February 2023 Advocacy Efforts
Please call your respective NY Assembly Member and Senator and ask them to sponsor the 3 literacy bills that are in the Educational Committee. The bills won’t get out of committee without sponsors. The Education Committee meets this week on 2/7 & 2/8.
We’ve listed the 3 bills to request sponsorship and support along with a template letter. Click here to see a suggested letter to email.
A.2897 The Right To Read Act - a new bill requiring the State Education Department (NYSED) to provide guidance to school districts on literacy programs based on the science of reading as the standard throughout the state. Additionally, it would require teachers in the elementary grades to complete 50 hours of training in the science of reading. It would prohibit SED from promoting curricula based on the “three cueing” method, which is still widely used and teaches guessing.
Talking Point - NYS has a reading crisis. Literacy rates show that approximately ⅔ of NYS students are not proficient readers and writers. It’s time for NYS to enact legislation.
A.133 Dyslexia Task Force - This is the same legislation that passed the Assembly and Senate last session but was vetoed by the Governor. The bill was reintroduced and would establish a statewide task force chaired by the State Commissioner of Education. The task force would examine and report on appropriate and effective evidence-based screening, intervention, and support for students with, and at risk for, dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Talking Point - Early identification which is both diagnostic and prescriptive is essential to close gaps and provide students with interventions needed to reach grade-level reading expectations.
A.2898 The Dyslexia Diagnosis Access Act - would mandate that private health insurance policies pay for neuropsychological exams for the purpose of diagnosing dyslexia. Students are unlikely to receive the intervention required to overcome dyslexia without a dyslexia diagnosis and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are recognized as the most effective way to positively diagnose dyslexia. However, such exams cost thousands of dollars and are typically not paid for by health insurance. This makes them unaffordable for too many families.
Talking Point - A diagnosis of dyslexia requires a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and it is not typically covered by health insurance. These exams can be cost-prohibitive to many families and result in the underdiagnosis of dyslexia. Without the diagnosis, students may not receive the interventions proven to produce the highest gains for dyslexic students.