Perhaps you recall reading this news in the Summer but with the hustle and bustle of the new school year have not provided much thought to being ready for a significant change in special education eligibility.  Here's a recap:

On Friday, August 9, 2013 Governor Christie signed a bill into law that officially recognized dyslexia in New Jersey schools.

The law follows work by a Reading Disabilities Task Force that submitted its findings in August 2012 http://decodingdyslexianj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Reading-Disabilities-Task-Force-Final-report-2012.pdf

The new law requires that the state Board of Education incorporate the International Dyslexia Association's definition of dyslexia into special education regulations. Currently, students with dyslexia, a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to process language, have been identified within the category of a specific learning disability. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/A4000/3608_I1.HTM

The governor also signed two related bills requiring teachers to receive annual training in reading disabilities and the State Department of Education to provide training opportunities for teachers.

Interestingly, the definition in the law was actually in the New Jersey Department of Education's  recent proposal for code changes but all changes were pulled.  Readoption of the old code occurred due to feedback on the proposed changes and only minor technical changes were made to the code.  It is expected that the NJDOE will be posting the newly required definition  up for discussion within the next few months. 

What should special education leaders be doing now?

This is a great time to ensure that your eligibility teams are knowledgeable about dyslexia, the indicators that a student may possess dyslexia and best practices for identifying the condition through assessment.  This may also involve acquiring new assessment materials and participating in training to be proficient in their use.  Perhaps the more important step is the grasp of methodologies and strategies that will most effectively assist the student with this condition.  In may cases, the training involved in methods such as The Wilson Reading System or Project Read, require extensive  training for teachers - this training doesn't happen quickly so its a good idea to identify your preferred methods and put a plan of action in motion.

Most importantly, share this pending requirement with your special education professionals ensuring they are aware and at the same time eliciting their collaborative efforts on what promises to be an exciting new chapter for special education in New Jersey.