104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2918 Introduced , by Rep. Jackie Haas SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.161105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for specific learning disabilities to school districts. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if the student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2918 Introduced , by Rep. Jackie Haas SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.161105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.161 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for specific learning disabilities to school districts. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if the student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2918 Introduced , by Rep. Jackie Haas SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.161105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.161 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
105 ILCS 5/2-3.161
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for specific learning disabilities to school districts. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if the student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b
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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 2-3.161 and by adding Sections 10-20.88 and 34-18.88 as
6 follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.161)
8 Sec. 2-3.161. Definition of dyslexia; reading instruction
9 advisory group; handbook; screening rules.
10 (a) The State Board of Education shall incorporate, in
11 both general education and special education, the following
12 definition of dyslexia:
13 Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is
14 neurobiological in origin. Dyslexia is characterized by
15 difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition
16 and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These
17 difficulties typically result from a deficit in the
18 phonological component of language that is often
19 unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and
20 the provision of effective classroom instruction.
21 Secondary consequences may include problems in reading
22 comprehension and reduced reading experience that can
23 impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2918 Introduced , by Rep. Jackie Haas SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.161105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.161 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
105 ILCS 5/2-3.161
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for specific learning disabilities to school districts. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if the student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b
LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
105 ILCS 5/2-3.161
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
LRB104 08893 LNS 18948 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
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1 (b) (Blank).
2 (c) The State Board of Education shall develop and
3 maintain a handbook to be made available on its Internet
4 website that provides guidance for pupils, parents or
5 guardians, and teachers on the subject of dyslexia. The
6 handbook shall include, but is not limited to:
7 (1) guidelines for teachers and parents or guardians
8 on how to identify signs of dyslexia;
9 (2) a description of educational strategies that have
10 been shown to improve the academic performance of pupils
11 with dyslexia; and
12 (3) a description of resources and services available
13 to pupils with dyslexia, parents or guardians of pupils
14 with dyslexia, and teachers; and .
15 (4) guidelines on the administration of a universal
16 screener and Level I dyslexia screening, the
17 interpretation of data from the screener or screening, and
18 the resulting appropriate instruction within a
19 multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework.
20 The State Board shall review the handbook once every 4
21 years to update, if necessary, the guidelines, educational
22 strategies, or resources and services made available in the
23 handbook.
24 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
25 necessary to ensure that a student is screened, as provided
26 under Section 10-20.88 or 34-18.88, for the risk factors of
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1 dyslexia using a universal screener:
2 (1) if a student is in any of grades kindergarten
3 through second in the public schools;
4 (2) if a student in any of grades kindergarten through
5 second:
6 (A) transfers to a new public school; and
7 (B) has not been screened previously during the
8 school year; and
9 (3) if a student from another state enrolls for the
10 first time in any of grades kindergarten through second in
11 a school district in this State, unless the student
12 presents documentation that the student:
13 (A) had the dyslexia screening or a similar
14 screening during the school year; or
15 (B) is exempt from screening.
16 (e) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
17 necessary to ensure that (i) a student is screened, as
18 provided under Section 10-20.88 or 34-18.88, for the
19 characteristics of dyslexia using a Level I dyslexia screening
20 and (ii) a student receives dyslexia intervention services
21 under Section 10-20.88 or 34-18.88.
22 (f) The State Board of Education shall provide technical
23 assistance for specific learning disabilities to school
24 districts, including assistance with universal screeners and
25 Level I dyslexia screenings.
26 (Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)
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1 (105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)
2 Sec. 10-20.88. Dyslexia screening and support required.
3 (a) In this Section:
4 "Level I dyslexia screening" means a process, as
5 determined by the school district, for gathering additional
6 information to determine if the characteristics of dyslexia
7 are present.
8 "Universal screener" means an assessment used to aid
9 educators in understanding the causes for student performance,
10 learning strengths, and the needs that underlie student
11 performance. The assessment is conducted to identify or
12 predict students who may be at risk for poor learning outcomes
13 and is typically brief and conducted with all students at a
14 particular grade level.
15 (b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school
16 district must screen students in grades kindergarten through
17 second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal
18 screener. The screening of students must include, as
19 developmentally appropriate, all of the following:
20 (1) Phonological and phonemic awareness.
21 (2) Sound symbol recognition.
22 (3) Alphabet knowledge.
23 (4) Decoding skills.
24 (5) Rapid naming skills.
25 (6) Encoding skills.
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1 (7) Oral reading fluency.
2 (c) If a student is determined to be at risk, or at some
3 risk, for dyslexia after the universal screener has been
4 administered under subsection (b), the school district must
5 administer a Level I dyslexia screening of the student.
6 Through the Level I dyslexia screening, the school district
7 must gather additional information to determine if the student
8 has the characteristics of dyslexia. The additional
9 information may include, but is not limited to, information
10 from progress monitoring data, work samples, additional age
11 and grade-appropriate assessments related to dyslexia, teacher
12 questionnaires, parent interviews, information regarding the
13 student's family history related to dyslexia, and speech and
14 language assessments.
15 (d) If the universal screener or the Level I dyslexia
16 screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for
17 dyslexia or the characteristics of dyslexia, the school must
18 use a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework to
19 address the needs of the student.
20 (e) A school district is not required to administer a
21 Level I dyslexia screening to a student if the student is
22 receiving dyslexia intervention services.
23 (f) If a student's performance on a Level I dyslexia
24 screening indicates a need for dyslexia intervention services,
25 the school district must do both of the following:
26 (1) Notify the student's parent or guardian of the
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1 results of all screenings.
2 (2) Provide the student's parent or guardian with
3 information and resource material that includes all of the
4 following:
5 (A) The characteristics of dyslexia.
6 (B) The appropriate classroom interventions and
7 accommodations for students with dyslexia.
8 (C) A statement that the parent or guardian may
9 elect to have the student receive an educational
10 evaluation by the school.
11 (g) If the student's Level I dyslexia screening indicates
12 that the student has characteristics of dyslexia, the dyslexia
13 intervention services provided to the student must be
14 implemented using diagnostic teaching guidelines described in
15 the handbook developed under Section 2-3.161.
16 (h) On or before July 1, 2026 and on or before each July 1
17 thereafter, each school district must report all of the
18 following information to the State Board of Education:
19 (1) The number of students who were administered a
20 universal screener during the school year.
21 (2) The number of students who were determined to be
22 at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia.
23 (3) The number of students during the previous school
24 year who received dyslexia intervention services under
25 this Section.
26 (4) The total number of students identified with the
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1 characteristics of dyslexia during the school year.
2 The State Board of Education shall publish the information
3 collected from the reports submitted by school districts on
4 its Internet website.
5 (105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new)
6 Sec. 34-18.88. Dyslexia screening and support required.
7 (a) In this Section:
8 "Level I dyslexia screening" means a process, as
9 determined by the school district, for gathering additional
10 information to determine if the characteristics of dyslexia
11 are present.
12 "Universal screener" means an assessment used to aid
13 educators in understanding the causes for student performance,
14 learning strengths, and the needs that underlie student
15 performance. The assessment is conducted to identify or
16 predict students who may be at risk for poor learning outcomes
17 and is typically brief and conducted with all students at a
18 particular grade level.
19 (b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school
20 district must screen students in grades kindergarten through
21 second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal
22 screener. The screening of students must include, as
23 developmentally appropriate, all of the following:
24 (1) Phonological and phonemic awareness.
25 (2) Sound symbol recognition.
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1 (3) Alphabet knowledge.
2 (4) Decoding skills.
3 (5) Rapid naming skills.
4 (6) Encoding skills.
5 (7) Oral reading fluency.
6 (c) If a student is determined to be at risk, or at some
7 risk, for dyslexia after the universal screener has been
8 administered under subsection (b), the school district must
9 administer a Level I dyslexia screening of the student.
10 Through the Level I dyslexia screening, the school district
11 must gather additional information to determine if the student
12 has the characteristics of dyslexia. The additional
13 information may include, but is not limited to, information
14 from progress monitoring data, work samples, additional age
15 and grade-appropriate assessments related to dyslexia, teacher
16 questionnaires, parent interviews, information regarding the
17 student's family history related to dyslexia, and speech and
18 language assessments.
19 (d) If the universal screener or the Level I dyslexia
20 screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for
21 dyslexia or the characteristics of dyslexia, the school must
22 use a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework to
23 address the needs of the student.
24 (e) The school district is not required to administer a
25 Level I dyslexia screening to a student if the student is
26 receiving dyslexia intervention services.
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1 (f) If a student's performance on a Level I dyslexia
2 screening indicates a need for dyslexia intervention services,
3 the school district must do both of the following:
4 (1) Notify the student's parent or guardian of the
5 results of all screenings.
6 (2) Provide the student's parent or guardian with
7 information and resource material that includes all of the
8 following:
9 (A) The characteristics of dyslexia.
10 (B) The appropriate classroom interventions and
11 accommodations for students with dyslexia.
12 (C) A statement that the parent or guardian may
13 elect to have the student receive an educational
14 evaluation by the school.
15 (g) If the student's Level I dyslexia screening indicates
16 that the student has characteristics of dyslexia, the dyslexia
17 intervention services provided to the student must be
18 implemented using diagnostic teaching guidelines described in
19 the handbook developed under Section 2-3.161.
20 (h) On or before July 1, 2026 and on or before each July 1
21 thereafter, the school district must report all of the
22 following information to the State Board of Education:
23 (1) The number of students who were administered a
24 universal screener during the school year.
25 (2) The number of students who were determined to be
26 at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia.
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1 (3) The number of students during the previous school
2 year who received dyslexia intervention services under
3 this Section.
4 (4) The total number of students identified with the
5 characteristics of dyslexia during the school year.
6 The State Board of Education shall publish the information
7 collected from the report on its Internet website.
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