Senate advances scholar program to reimburse teachers for advanced dyslexia endorsement using leftover certification funds

A Senate subcommittee advanced a bill establishing a competitive scholar program to reimburse teachers who obtain an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the Board of Educational Examiners. The College Student Aid Commission would administer the program.

Sponsor Senator Taylor explained the amendment removes the bill's original $335,000 appropriation and instead directs unused funds from the National Board Certification program to seed the dyslexia endorsement scholarship fund, while still allowing the state to appropriate additional money later. "We're hoping that the state will allocate new money, but at the very least, we can get the unused portion of this other fund to establish a line item in the budget and to get the ball rolling," Taylor said.

Senator Kornbach said he supported the amendment and the bill but urged a direct appropriation to make funding reliable: "These kids don't deserve to have to wait on somebody else's leftovers." Senator Zimmer and other members said the training is "life changing" for students and praised the bill's goal of expanding access to dyslexia training without requiring teachers to pay out of pocket.

The amendment and the bill as amended passed by voice votes in committee. The program would reimburse tuition costs associated with obtaining the Board of Educational Examiners' advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement; the amendment clarified unused National Board Certification funds are the initial funding source and did not foreclose future appropriations.