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HB 389KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Kentucky House Bill 389 updates school dyslexia screening requirements and teacher training mandates

Original title: AN ACT relating to reading and writing in schools.

Last action · March 18, 2026: to Education (S)Sponsors: Samara Heavrin and 15 others

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 389 requires local school boards to adopt policies for identifying and assisting kindergarten through grade three students with , and mandates that university teacher preparation programs include dyslexia instruction by the 2027-2028 academic year.

Why it matters

School districts must screen early elementary students for reading difficulties using approved tools, notify parents of results, and provide structured literacy interventions, while colleges must update educator training.

Background

Kentucky previously enacted baseline dyslexia screening and support statutes under KRS 158.305 and KRS 158.307. context
The General Assembly is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky responsible for passing statutory laws. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

students in kindergarten through grade three

Students undergo universal screening for dyslexia characteristics, receive targeted structured literacy interventions, and are monitored for reading progress.

Directly affected

local school districts

Districts must develop mandatory dyslexia policies, administer approved screening tools, provide interventions, and report annual data to the Department of Education.

Directly affected

postsecondary teacher preparation programs

Colleges and universities must include coursework on dyslexia, evidence-based interventions, and multitiered systems of support by the 2027-2028 academic year.

Key Facts

Local school boards must develop a policy addressing the implementation of a program for identifying and assisting kindergarten through grade three students with dyslexia.
Districts must use approved universal screener and diagnostic tools assessing phonological awareness, sound symbol recognition, alphabet knowledge, decoding, encoding, and rapid naming.
Schools must provide intervention services using structured literacy practices that offer explicit, systematic, sequential, and cumulative instruction.
If screening indicates risk factors for dyslexia, schools must use a multitiered system of supports and notify parents or guardians.

Show all 8 facts

If a student continues to demonstrate characteristics of dyslexia and does not make progress after receiving interventions, the school district must consider a referral for a special education evaluation.
Beginning June 30, 2028, local school districts must annually provide specific dyslexia data to the Department of Education for five years.
Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs for elementary and secondary regular education must include instruction on dyslexia and multitiered systems of support by the 2027-2028 academic year.
The Department of Education must update and make available a dyslexia toolkit offering guidance, technical assistance, and training to local districts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels are targeted by the dyslexia screening and intervention requirements?

The provisions target students in kindergarten through grade three.

What components must local district universal screener and diagnostic tools address?

Tools must address phonological and , sound symbol recognition, alphabet knowledge, decoding skills, encoding skills, and rapid naming.

When must universities incorporate dyslexia instruction into teacher preparation programs?

Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs must include instruction on by the 2027-2028 academic year.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

7 actions

Mar 18, 2026SenateCommittee
to Education (S)
Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroduced
received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Jan 28, 2026HouseFloor
3rd reading, passed 95-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
Jan 22, 2026HouseFloor
2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026
Jan 21, 2026House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
Jan 20, 2026HouseCommittee
to Primary and Secondary Education (H)

Show 1 earlier action

Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

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