2021 -- H 5840

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LC001085

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA AND

RELATED DISORDERS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Quattrocchi, Place, Filippi, Nardone, and Price

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-67.2 of the General Laws entitled "Education of Children with

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Dyslexia and Related Disorders" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-67.2-6. Orton-Gillingham certified schools.

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     (a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "Emerson's Law," in recognition of

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Emerson Stone, a dyslexic child from Rhode Island.

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     (b) Any school within any school district that establishes a certified program using the

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phonics-based method called Orton-Gillingham or if any school shall, prior to January 1, 2026,

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employ an Orton-Gillingham certified instructor, the school's programs shall be made available to

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any pupil in the state diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia.

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     (c) The cost for out-of-district students shall be reimbursed by the school district from

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which the pupil resides and the cost for any out-of-district student choosing to attend the Orton-

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Gillingham certified school shall be determined by the commissioner using the Rhode Island

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uniform chart of accounts (UCOA) and supporting data from the National Center of Education

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Statistics (NCES).

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     (d) The costs associated with attending an Orton-Gillingham certified school shall be

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updated every three (3) years using the same criteria as in subsection (c) of this section.

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     (e) The commissioner is authorized to receive and shall direct any and all available federal

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funds, grants or other available funding toward the development of Orton-Gillingham certified

 

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schools pursuant to this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA AND

RELATED DISORDERS

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     This act would provide that if a school district established an Orton-Gillingham certified

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school, the program would be available to all students statewide who qualify.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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