A bill for an act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chad Ingels

HF 96 establishes a scholarship program to reimburse teachers for costs of obtaining advanced dyslexia specialist endorsements, enhancing support for students with dyslexia.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 272.

#collegestudentaidcommission #dyslexia #educationappropriations #teachers

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HF 96
Title: A bill for an act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.
Status: Renumbered as HF 272 after committee report approval.
Introduced: January 22, 2025
Classification: Bill
Subject: College student aid commission, dyslexia, education appropriations, teachers

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HF 96 is to establish a competitive scholarship program aimed at supporting teachers in obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement. This program is designed to alleviate the financial burden associated with the costs of obtaining this specialized certification, thereby enhancing the educational support available for students with dyslexia.

Key Provisions

Establishment of the Program: The bill creates the Advanced Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Competitive Scholar Program, which will be administered by the College Student Aid Commission.

Tuition Reimbursement: The program will provide tuition reimbursement to eligible teachers who are pursuing an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the Board of Educational Examiners.

Eligibility Criteria:

Teachers must be employed in a school or area education agency within the state.
Applicants must be actively working toward obtaining the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement.

Application Process:

Teachers must complete and file an application for tuition reimbursement.
Annual reapplication is required, with the submission of necessary information to assess continued eligibility for reimbursement.

Impact

Who is Affected: The bill primarily impacts teachers in the state who are seeking to enhance their qualifications in dyslexia education. It aims to improve the quality of education for students with dyslexia by ensuring that more teachers are trained and certified in this area.

Educational Institutions: Schools and area education agencies will benefit indirectly as they will have access to more qualified educators capable of supporting students with dyslexia.

Procedural Timeline

January 22, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the Education Committee.

January 27, 2025: Subcommittee meeting held.

January 29, 2025: Subcommittee recommends passage of the bill.

February 6, 2025: Committee report recommending passage; committee vote results: 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Excused.

February 10, 2025: Committee report approving the bill; renumbered as HF 272.

Conclusion

HF 96 represents a significant step toward improving educational resources for teachers and students dealing with dyslexia. By providing financial support for professional development, the bill aims to foster a more inclusive and effective educational environment for students with learning disabilities.

Bill