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New Ohio Law Addresses Substitute Teacher Employment and Modifies Dyslexia Requirements


June 27, 2022

Lisa-WoloszynekJune 27, 2022

On Friday June 24, 2022, Ohio Governor DeWine signed House Bill 583.  This bill extends the authorization for Ohio schools to employ substitute teachers according to their own established education-level requirements through the 2023-2024 school year.  It also addresses some budgetary issues and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and administer a program to provide tutoring and remedial education services to students in participating public and chartered nonpublic schools.  Importantly, House Bill 583 also modifies key dyslexia requirements and deadlines for school districts that were set to start with the 2022-2023 school year.

The dyslexia requirement changes include:

  • Removes “multi-sensory” from the statutory references to multi-sensory structured literacy program”;
  • Specifies that art, music and physical education teachers are not required to receive professional development in dyslexia intervention, but authorizes school districts to require their employees to go through additional professional development if the district desires;
  • Clarifies that districts must only comply with provisions in the Dyslexia Guidebook that are statutorily required; and
  • A delay for the screening requirements of K-3 students until the 2023-24 school year, but allows districts to start screening students earlier.

While House Bill 583 temporarily relieves school districts of some of the dyslexia requirements, the new dyslexia obligations will still require attention during the 2022-2023 school year.  Several requirements for the 2022-2023 school year remain unchanged.

If you have questions, please know that we are happy to help with any challenges your district may be experiencing.

Lisa Woloszynek is an associate at Walter Haverfield who focuses her practice on education law. She can be reached at lwoloszynek@walterhav.com and at 216-619-7835.