Bill to highlight training to better help children with dyslexia advances

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, has won unanimous approval from the Senate Education Committee for legislation aimed at better identifying and helping children with dyslexia, a learning disorder that can hinder a child’s ability to read. Hicks, a professional educator, is the author of Senate Bill 840, aimed at creating a micro-credential for teachers who complete the Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) certification or Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI).

“Currently, parents in most Oklahoma school districts are responsible for the cost of having their child tested for dyslexia, and it can cost hundreds of dollars,” Hicks said. “Under SB 840, specialists with these micro-credentials will be able to test students for dyslexia.”

In order to obtain a CALT or CERI micro-credential, the applicant must, at a minimum:

• Hold a master’s degree.
• Complete comprehensive therapy-level training.
• Complete 28 days of instruction after the passage of the applicable competency examination.

Hicks, a former educator, said being able to better identify and utilize educators with additional skills and training through the micro-credentialing process will help the overall goal of producing better readers.

“Dyslexia is one of the most prevalent learning disabilities, impacting as many as one out of five people. It can result in delays and life-long difficulties in reading,” Hicks said. “CALT and CERI micro-certified specialists can help those students by identifying them and their needs and helping create individual education plans (IEP) to help them succeed.”

The next step for SB 840 is consideration by the full Senate.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov