Tag: advocacy

Required K-2 Screening is Headed to the Governor for Signature!

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Both Houses voted unanimously today for the budget trailer bill package which includes a provision for mandated, annual CA K-2 screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. The budget trailer bill package now heads to Governor Newsom for signature.

Decoding Dyslexia CA has excerpted the text in the proposed budget trailer bill package regarding K-2 screening for your convenience.

“Today is a major milestone in the path to enacting legislation requiring K-2 annual screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. DDCA has been advocating for state legislation on universal screening since 2014. We are thrilled by today’s vote in the legislature”, stated Lori DePole, Co-State Director.

Thank you to Governor Newsom for making universal screening a priority and to Senator Portantino for his tenacity and continuous advocacy on this important issue. In addition, special thanks to EdVoice, California State PTA, and the over 50 supporting organizations that have demonstrated their support through letters, phone calls and public comments at various legislative hearings.  And last but not least, thank you to all of our individual DDCA supporters!

UPDATE: State Legislature to Vote on K-2 Screening in Budget Trailer Bill Package

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As part of the budget trailer bill package, annual K-2 screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia, could be on its way to Governor Newsom for signature as soon as today.

The Assembly Budget and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committees held hearings yesterday. The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee voted to approve the trailer bill package in a 14-0 vote. The Assembly Budget Committee Chair stated at the beginning of their hearing that it was “informational only,” and they did not vote on the trailer bill package. The Assembly Budget Committee Chair did state that the Assembly Floor would be voting on the bill today. The Education Omnibus trailer bill (AB 114/SB 114) includes a provision for mandated, annual CA K-2 screening for risk of reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia.

If approved, as early as today, by both Houses with a simple majority vote, the budget trailer bill package will be submitted to Governor Newsom for signature. It should be noted that the final legislative deadline for trailer bills this year isn’t until September 14th with the Governor having to sign or veto any trailer bills by October 14th.

You can watch the House floor sessions live today by clicking below (no public comments for floor sessions):

Decoding Dyslexia CA has excerpted the language in the Education Omnibus trailer bill (AB 114/SB 114) regarding K-2 screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia, for your convenience: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org/senate-bill-114-assembly-bill-114/

For more information about mandated, annual K-2 screening, please read our previously posted blog from June 2, 2023.