§ 12-29-311 — Dyslexia screening - Science of reading - Intervention services

The Superintendent of the Arkansas Correctional School District shall: (1) Promulgate rules that require that: (A) Teachers within the Arkansas Correctional School District have and demonstrate awareness of the best practices of scientific reading instruction as required under the Right to Read Act, § 6-17-429 ; (B) Each inmate who does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent receive: (i) A reading proficiency-level assessment; and (ii) (a) Dyslexia screening administered with fidelity, as defined under § 6-41-602 . (b) If the district provides dyslexia intervention to an inmate who demonstrates under subdivision (1)(B)(ii) (a) of this section that the inmate is reading below the proficiency level required to be a high-functioning reader, the dyslexia intervention the district provides shall be evidence-based and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia; and (C) A process be established by which new-intake inmates are: (i) Assessed and administered a dyslexia screening with fidelity, as defined under § 6-41-602 ; and (ii) Provided dyslexia intervention with fidelity, as defined under § 6-41-602 , that is evidence-based and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia; and (2) Submit a plan to the Division of Correction that allows inmates to voluntarily receive: (A) A reading proficiency-level assessment; (B) Dyslexia screening administered with fidelity, as defined under § 6-41-602 ; and (C) Reading instruction that is consistent with the science of reading, as provided under the Right to Read Act, § 6-17-429 .

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 1088,§ 2, eff. 7/24/2019.