SB 159

01-19 13:54  S.B. 159
1Dyslexia Screening Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                             STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Kathleen A. Riebe
                                               House Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill requires dyslexia screening for certain students in public schools.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ defines terms;
9▸ requires certain school districts to screen certain students for dyslexia;
10▸ requires a regional education service agency to screen certain students for dyslexia;
11▸ allows a parent to request dyslexia screening for the parent's student in certain situations;
12▸ allows a charter school to screen certain students for dyslexia; and
13▸ requires the state board to:
14●   distribute funds the Legislature appropriates;
15●   provide dyslexia screening for certain students; and
16●   make relevant administrative rules.
17   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18None
19   Other Special Clauses:
20This bill provides a special effective date.
21   Utah Code Sections Affected:
22   ENACTS:
2353G-9-216, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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24
25   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26Section 1. Section 53G-9-216 is enacted to read:
2753G-9-216 . Dyslexia screening.
28   (1) As used in this section:
29(a) "Dyslexia" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-4-307.
30(b) "Large school district" means a school district:
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31(i) with more than 3,000 students; or
32(ii) located in a county of the first, second, or third class, as described in Section
3317-60-104.
34      (c) "Public school" means a:
35(i) district school; or
36(ii) charter school.
37      (d) "Regional education service agency" means the same as that term is defined in
38Section 53G-4-410.
39      (e) "Small school district" means a school district:
40(i) with 3,000 students or fewer; or
41(ii) located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class, as described in Section
4217-60-104.
43  (2) A large school district shall:
44      (a) administer a dyslexia screener to a student enrolled in a public school in:
45(i) kindergarten;
46(ii) grade 1; and
47(iii) grade 2;
48      (b) administer the dyslexia screener described in Subsection (2)(a) at least once during
49each school year for the applicable grade level; and
50      (c) use the funds the state board allocates under Subsection (8) to:
51(i) hire one full-time equivalent employee whose primary responsibility is to
52administer a dyslexia screener and coordinate screening activities within the large
53school district, in accordance with the requirements of this section; and
54(ii) cover other costs associated with the requirements of this section.
55  (3)(a) A regional education service agency shall:
56(i) administer a dyslexia screener to:
57(A) each student enrolled in a small school district; and
58(B) upon request, a student enrolled at a charter school in accordance with
59Subsection (4); and
60(ii) use the funds the state board allocates under Subsection (8) to:
61(A) hire one full-time equivalent employee whose primary responsibility is to
62administer a dyslexia screener and coordinate screening activities within the
63regional education service agency, in accordance with the requirements of this
64section; and
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65(B) cover other costs associated with the requirements of this section.
66(b) A small school district shall use the small school district's regional education service
67agency to administer the dyslexia screener required under Subsection (3)(a).
68   (4) A charter school may, voluntarily or upon the request of a parent of a student enrolled in
69the charter school, through the charter school's regional education service agency,
70administer a dyslexia screener to a student in:
71(a) kindergarten;
72(b) grade 1; or
73(c) grade 2.
74   (5)(a) A parent of a student enrolled at a public school, in grades kindergarten through
75grade 2, may request a dyslexia screening for the parent's student regardless of
76whether a public school has administered a screener to the student in accordance with
77this section.
78(b) A parent of a student enrolled in the following programs may request that the state
79board screen the parent's student for dyslexia:
80(i) a home school program;
81(ii) the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program, established in Section
8253E-7-402;
83(iii) the Statewide Online Education Program, created in Section 53F-4-502; or
84(iv) the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, established in Section 53F-6-402.
85   (6) A school district or regional education service agency may select and administer any
86dyslexia screener that:
87(a) aligns with state board rule; and
88(b) complies with the requirements of this section.
89   (7) For a student whom a district or charter school screens for dyslexia under this section
90and who demonstrates characteristics of dyslexia, the district or charter school shall
91comply with the requirements of Subsection 53E-4-307(4)(a).
92   (8) The state board shall:
93(a) subject to legislative appropriations, distribute funds to each large school district and
94each regional educational service agency to comply with the requirements of this
95section;
96(b) employ or contract with personnel who can administer a dyslexia screener to the
97students described in Subsection (5)(b); and
98(c) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
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99make rules to:
100(i) create a process to identify reliable and effective dyslexia screeners for use under
101this section; and
102(ii) comply with the requirements of this section.
103Section 2. Effective Date.
104  This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
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