SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, Nos. 3606 and 3607

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 19, 2013

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports the Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill Nos. 3606 and 3607.

      This bill requires that the Department of Education provide professional development opportunities related to reading disabilities, including dyslexia, to school district personnel, including general education, special education, basic skills, and English as a second language teachers, instructional support staff, administrators, supervisors, child study team members, and speech-language specialists.  The bill also requires that certain school district personnel annually complete two hours of professional development on the screening, intervention, accommodation, and use of technology for students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia.  This professional development requirement would be applicable to general education teachers in grades kindergarten through 3, special education, basic skills, and English as a second language teachers, reading specialists, learning disabilities teacher consultants, and speech-language specialists.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to the Senate Committee Substitute for S-2440 and S-2441, which also was reported by the committee on this same date.