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Dyslexia Law

Overview of Ohio's Dyslexia Support Laws

Ohio's dyslexia support laws are designed to ensure early identification and evidence-based instruction for students with dyslexia or dyslexic tendencies. Managed in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the legislation establishes uniform screening, structured intervention strategies, and mandatory professional development for educators.

Core Components of the Law

1. Universal Screening & Progress Monitoring

The law establishes a multi-tiered approach to identifying students at risk for dyslexia:

  • Tier 1 Screening: All kindergarten students must be universally screened annually. Additionally, students in grades 1–6 are screened upon a parent/guardian request or a teacher's request (with parental permission).

  • Progress Monitoring: Students identified as "at risk" on a Tier 1 screener are monitored for up to six weeks.

  • Tier 2 Screening: If a student does not show sufficient reading progress during monitoring, the district administers a more diagnostic Tier 2 screener to evaluate specific dyslexic tendencies.

2. Evidence-Based Instruction (Structured Literacy)

Schools are required to implement a Structured Literacy approach for students identified with dyslexic tendencies. Grounded in the Science of Reading, this method provides explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction focusing on phonology, sound-symbol association, syllables, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

3. Teacher Professional Development & Certification

To ensure educators are fully equipped to support these students, the law mandates 18 hours of professional development aligned with Ohio’s Dyslexia Guidebook. This requirement has been phased in by grade band:

  • K–1 Teachers: Completed training by the 2023–2024 school year.

  • 2nd–3rd Grade Teachers: Completed training by the 2024–2025 school year.

  • Grades 4–12 Intervention Specialists: Mandated to complete training by September 15 of the 2025–2026 school year.

  • Districts must also maintain a structured literacy certification process for teachers providing K–3 instruction.

4. Parental Notification and Communication

Districts must communicate closely with families throughout the process. Parents must be notified in writing if their child is placed on progress monitoring, receive Tier 2 screening results within 30 days of administration, and be provided with instructional resources and descriptions of the evidence-based interventions the school is implementing.

Note on the Third Grade Reading Guarantee:  The dyslexia support laws operate alongside—and do not replace—the existing requirements for Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee. Districts must continue to administer regular reading diagnostic assessments and provide Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plans (RIMPs) for any student scoring "not on track."