Senate unanimously approves bill to elevate dyslexia training

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given unanimous, bipartisan approval for legislation aimed at better identifying and helping children with dyslexia, a learning disorder that can hinder a child’s ability to read. Sen. Carri Hicks, a professional educator, is the author of Senate Bill 840, creating a micro-credential for teachers who complete the Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) certification or Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI).

“I think many people may not realize that parents in most Oklahoma school districts are responsible for the cost of having their child tested for dyslexia. Those tests can cost hundreds of dollars but are necessary to get the specialized instruction students with dyslexia need,” Hicks said. “Under SB 840, dyslexia specialists will be able to diagnose students with dyslexia in their public school.”

In order to obtain a CALT or CERI micro-credential, the applicant must, at a minimum:

• Hold a master’s degree.
• Complete comprehensive therapy-level training.
• Complete 28 days of instruction after the passage of the applicable competency examination.

Hicks said being able to better identify and utilize educators with additional skills and training through the micro-credentialing process will improve Oklahoma’s literacy rates.

“One in five people has dyslexia and it can cause delays and life-long difficulties in reading,” Hicks said. “CALT and CERI micro-certified specialists can help those students by identifying them and their needs and helping create individual education plans (IEP) to help them succeed.”

SB 840 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, is the principal House author of the measure.

– END –

For more information, contact:  Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov