Dyslexia Awareness Month, observed in October, is a time to spread awareness and support for those with the neurobiological learning disability, characterized by the California Dyslexia Guidelines as experiencing “difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.”

“These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction,” the guidelines continue. “Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”

Widely recognized as the most common learning disability, dyslexia is estimated to impact as much as 15-20 percent of the U.S. population. Early interventions are critical in setting students up for success as they progress through school.

In summer 2023, as part of the education budget trailer bill (Senate Bill 114) signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the State Board of Education was required to convene a panel of experts to create a list of “evidence-based, culturally, linguistically and developmentally appropriate screening instruments for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 to assess pupils for risk of reading difficulties, including possible neurological disorders such as dyslexia.”

Four reading difficulties screeners were ultimately selected and announced by the California Department of Education in December 2024. By the end of June 2025, local educational agencies across the state were required to adopt one of the approved screeners for implementation in the 2025–26 school year. LEAs dictate when the assessment takes place but must notify parents/guardians at least 15 calendar days prior to administration and provide instructions for how they can opt out if desired.

“Screening students for risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia, is one of many tools that educators can employ to gain information about how to support their students’ learning,” according to the California Dyslexia Initiative’s (CDI) overview of SB 114. CDI, administered by the Sacramento County Office of Education, is a project meant to build capacity within the Statewide System of Support for LEAs to provide early intervention and supports for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

“Screening should be considered part of a school’s comprehensive instructional strategy, and should be used by educators like other types of formative and summative assessments: to inform instruction, measure a student’s progress, identify student learning needs, and enable parents and educators to discuss student needs in a more informed way. Screening results shall be used as a flag for potential risk of reading difficulties and to provide supports and services.”

In spite of these developments, California lagged most other states in requiring similar screening requirements.

Many LEAs, such as San Francisco Unified School District, are now in the implementation phase. According to the district’s website, the assessment windows are set for K-3 students. As this is a new practice for families as well, the webpage details what the purpose of the screener is, what will be assessed, when parents/guardians can expect results, what will happen if a student is identified as needing more support and more.

A recent report from Californians Together and Teach Plus, Considerations and Suggestions When Adopting a Reading Difficulties Screener for Multilingual Learners, includes guiding questions for LEA leaders as they navigated adoption, and now, implementation, along with other resources.

For more information on dyslexia, CDI has professional learning modules available online as well as library expert-led webinars on matters of literacy and dyslexia as well as how to best support students. The International Dyslexia Association’s report, Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know, is another popular resource for educators.

As part of the June 2025 Policy Update Packet, CSBA updated Board Policy 6142.91 – Reading/Language Arts Instruction.