{"id":5727,"date":"2021-04-21T13:51:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T17:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/irwin\/?p=5727"},"modified":"2021-04-21T13:51:44","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T17:51:44","slug":"democratic-republican-senators-introduce-bills-to-address-dyslexia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/irwin\/2021\/04\/21\/democratic-republican-senators-introduce-bills-to-address-dyslexia\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic, Republican Senators Introduce Bills to Address Dyslexia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LANSING, Mich. (April 21, 2021) \u2014 Sens.\u00a0Jeff Irwin<\/strong>\u00a0(D\u2013Ann Arbor),\u00a0Dayna Polehanki<\/strong>\u00a0(D-Livonia),\u00a0Jim Runestad<\/strong>\u00a0(R-White Lake), and\u00a0Lana Theis<\/strong>\u00a0(R-Brighton) have introduced legislation to improve child literacy rates in honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four bills address factors that impact literacy performance in children, specifically pertaining to screening and treating aspects of dyslexia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReading and writing are the foundation of success in our society, but\u00a0more than 50% of 3rd and 4th graders in Michigan are not proficient in these essential skills<\/a>, which is why we need to address this issue,\u201d Sen. Irwin said. \u201cMichigan has no statewide strategy to screen and treat the most common language-based learning disability, dyslexia, which means we are failing our students. This bill package would go a long way to providing our teachers and our children with the support they need to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The senators hope the bills introduced would ultimately help identify students who are exhibiting problems with learning language and reading skills, and provide schools and educators with the necessary intervention and tiered supports they need to help these students succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducators want nothing more than to help their students thrive academically and in life,\u201d said Sen. Theis, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education and Career Readiness. \u201cBy preparing our teachers to understand the characteristics and effects of dyslexia, we can ensure they are better able to help students achieve. As someone with a family member who has overcome dyslexia, I know firsthand the importance of having teachers who are prepared to intervene.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been estimated that\u00a05% to 10% of the population are living with dyslexia<\/a>, which is anywhere from 108,000 to 217,000 children in Michigan alone. The legislation would help ensure that educators can understand, identify, and treat dyslexia to prevent Michigan students from falling through the cracks, and includes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n