SB1915 would require Illinois school teachers to give written notice to the parent or legal guardian of any student in grades 1 through 3 who is determined to have a substantial reading deficiency or characteristics of dyslexia. The notice must be provided immediately after the determination is made and must state that the student has been identified as having a reading deficiency, describe the services the district is already providing, explain the supplemental instructional services and supports the district plans to provide, and include strategies parents can use at home to help the child improve reading proficiency.
The bill bases the trigger for notice on screening, diagnostic, progress-monitoring, assessment data, statewide assessments, or teacher observations. It also amends the State Mandates Act to specify that no state reimbursement is required for the new mandate. In practical terms, the bill would add a new parental-notification requirement to the School Code and create a corresponding unfunded mandate for school districts.
Impact
SB1915 would add Section 22-82.5 to the School Code, creating a new statewide requirement for early-grade reading deficiency notifications and expanding the duties of teachers and school districts when a student in grades 1 through 3 is identified as struggling with reading or showing signs of dyslexia. It would also add Section 8.49 to the State Mandates Act to bar reimbursement by the State for implementation costs, meaning districts would be responsible for any administrative or operational expenses associated with compliance.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears aimed at early intervention and family engagement in literacy instruction, which typically attracts support from education reform and parent-notification advocates. At the same time, the explicit no-reimbursement language suggests an awareness that school districts may view the requirement as an added administrative burden.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the mandate itself: school districts may object to being required to provide immediate written notice and related information without state reimbursement, especially if implementation requires staff time, documentation, or coordination of interventions. Another possible issue is the breadth of the trigger for notice, since the bill allows identification based on multiple sources, including teacher observations, which could raise concerns about consistency and discretion. Supporters would likely emphasize early identification, transparency for parents, and faster intervention for struggling readers and students with dyslexia.
In evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions, providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction.
Change provisions relating to income taxes imposed on partnerships and small business corporations and notices of deficiency determinations, deficiencies, and denials of claims for refunds
In evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and for evidence-based reading instruction curriculum and providing for reading screening, for reading deficiency and identification, for school entity duties and reading intervention plan, for parent notification, for grants to school entities, for funding and for reporting; and establishing the Evidence-based Reading Instruction Restricted Account.
Schools; accreditation standards; deficiencies; permitting school districts to request a hearing on accreditation recommendations; effective date; emergency.
Schools; accreditation standards; deficiencies; permitting school districts to request a hearing on accreditation recommendations; effective date; emergency.
Modifies provisions relating to investments of public employee retirement and pension systems, requiring divestment of fund holdings in certain Chinese entities or products