AB 583

Beginning July 1, 2015, this bill prohibits the Department of Public Instruction

(DPI) from issuing or renewing a license as a reading specialist or as a special

education teacher, or that authorizes the holder to teach in an elementary grade or

to teach reading, unless he or she passes a supplementary examination, developed

or adopted by DPI, that assesses knowledge of the following topics:

1. Reading development and scientifically based reading instruction;

integration of knowledge and understanding phonological and phonemic awareness;

concepts of print and the alphabetic principles; the role of phonics in promoting

reading development; word analysis skills and strategies; vocabulary development;

how to apply reading comprehension skills and strategies to imaginative, literacy,

informational, and expository texts; formal and informal methods of assessing

reading development; and multiple approaches to reading instruction.

2. Simultaneous and multi-sensory, structured language methods and

curricula.

3. How to assess the results of devices used to screen pupils for phonemic

awareness and rapid naming and provide appropriate reading instruction and

intervention.

The bill directs DPI to offer training in the above topics and authorizes DPI to

charge a reasonable fee for the training.