House adopts substitute to require annual dyslexia toolkit updates and school screening guidance
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Summary
House Bill 389, as amended by House Committee Substitute 1, passed unanimously. The bill requires the Kentucky Department of Education to annually review and update the dyslexia toolkit, support professional development, require local boards to adopt universal screening processes, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher-preparation programs.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House passed House Bill 389 as amended, adopting a committee substitute that adds Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) alignment and requires state and local actions to improve early identification and intervention for students with dyslexia.
Representative Hebron, sponsor of HB 389, said the measure responds to outreach from families and districts and would require the Kentucky Department of Education to "review and update the dyslexia toolkit" annually, provide technical assistance and training, partner on professional development, require local school boards to adopt a process for universal screeners and diagnostic tools, and require teacher‑preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia.
House Committee Substitute 1 added compliance language with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and removed a prior specified "3 queuing system" model in favor of department‑proven evidence‑based practices. Hebron cited a Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity statistic that "1 in 5 children have dyslexia in the United States" and urged colleagues that the bill would help Kentucky move toward reading proficiency by third grade.
The clerk recorded 95 ayes and no nays; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill as amended was passed. Clinchers were applied.
What happens next: With House passage, the bill will continue through the legislative process; implementation duties fall to the Kentucky Department of Education if enacted.