Ohio Code 3319.077 – Teacher professional development in dyslexia
(A) As used in this section:
(1) “Dyslexia” has the same meaning as in section 3323.25 of the Revised Code.
(2) “Ohio dyslexia committee” means the committee established under section 3325.25 of the Revised Code.
(3) “Special education” has the same meaning as in section 3323.01 of the Revised Code.
(4) “Teacher” does not include any teacher who provides instruction in fine arts, music, or physical education.
(B)(1) The department of education and workforce, in collaboration with the Ohio dyslexia committee, shall maintain a list of training that fulfills the professional development requirements prescribed in division (C) of this section. The list may consist of online or classroom learning models.
(2) Each approved training shall align with the guidebook developed under section 3323.25 of the Revised Code, be evidence-based, and require instruction and training for identifying characteristics of dyslexia and understanding the pedagogy for instructing students with dyslexia.
(3) The Ohio dyslexia committee shall prescribe a total number of clock hours of instruction in training approved under this section for a teacher to complete to satisfy the professional development requirements prescribed in division (C) of this section. The Ohio dyslexia committee shall prescribe a total number of clock hours that is not less than six clock hours and not more than eighteen clock hours.
(C)(1) Division (C)(1) of this section applies to any teacher who was employed by a local, city, or exempted village school district on April 12, 2021, and is still employed by that district on the dates specified under division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section as follows:
(a) Not later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, each district teacher employed by a local, city, or exempted village school district who provides instruction for students in kindergarten and first grade, including those providing special education instruction, shall complete the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required by the committee under this section.
(b) Not later than September 15, 2024, each district teacher employed by a school district who provides instruction for students in grades two and three, including those providing special education instruction, shall complete the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required by the committee under this section.
(c) Not later than September 15, 2025, each district teacher employed by a school district who provides special education instruction for students in grades four through twelve shall complete a professional development training approved under division (B) of this section.
(2) Any teacher hired by a local, city, or exempted village school district after April 12, 2021, who provides instruction for students in any of grades kindergarten through three, including a teacher providing special education instruction, or who provides special education instruction for students in any of grades four through twelve shall complete professional development training in accordance with division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section by the later of two years after the date of hire or the date specified under division (C)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section, unless the teacher completed the training while employed by a different district under division (C)(1) of this section.
(D) Any professional development training completed by a teacher prior to April 12, 2021, that is then included on the list of training approved under division (B)(1) of this section shall count toward the number of instructional hours in approved professional development training required under division (C) of this section.
(E) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a school district from requiring employees who are not subject to this section from completing professional development training approved under division (B) of this section.
Last updated August 17, 2023 at 11:18 AM