Illinois Strengthens The Education of Children with Dyslexia

Illinois Governor Rauner (R) signs key Bellock bill. HB 4352 strengthens the education of children with dyslexia by establishing a statewide definition of this condition. The new law also mandates the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to include the definition in their future contacts with schools. The bill, introduced and sponsored by Representative Patti Bellock (R), was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday, July 22, 2016.

“Children with dyslexia must not be left behind in the classroom,” Bellock asserts. Defining dyslexia and moving toward making the definition an integral part of educational target management will enable teachers to recognize the presence of this condition in classrooms. Teachers and educators will be able to fight back against the perverse incentive to ignore children with dyslexia as a way of keeping their test scores high. They will be able to integrate the presence of children with dyslexia into their classroom plans and reading instructions. 

The bipartisan-sponsored HB 4352 was unanimously approved by the House and Senate. It goes into effect immediately. 


Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the School Code. Sets forth the definition of dyslexia that the State Board of Education must incorporate in both general education and special education (instead of requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules that incorporate an international definition of dyslexia). Effective immediately.