Legislation
The Arkansas Legislature passed legislation in 2013 concerning meeting the needs of children with dyslexia in public schools (act 1294). This legislation was revised in 2015 and became Act 1268. In 2017, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1039 (SB 708) to further amend the dyslexia law. Most recently, amendments to the dyslexia law and rules occurred in 2025. This code defines dyslexia, describes required screening and intervention, and lists required actions of the state, education cooperatives, and school districts.
Definition
As defined in the Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-602, Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language. These characteristics are often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities.
Dyslexia is a specific type of learning disability.
May exist along with other conditions such as ADHD or an oral language disorder
Dyslexia is neurological in nature.
Brain works or functions differently- size, structural, and connectivity differences
Has been shown in functional MRI studies
Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties in decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling).
Difficulties with automatic and accurate word recognition
Poor word attack abilities
Poor spelling
Difficulties in word recognition and decoding may cause additional difficulties in other components of reading and a lack of interest in reading.
Poor reading comprehension
Limited growth in vocabulary
Limited growth in background knowledge
Dyslexia typically results from a phonological deficit that delays word recognition.
Poor understanding of sound-based structures
Poor understanding of the relationship between sound and print
Dyslexia is often unexpected in relation to other factors.
Not predicted by age, other cognitive abilities, or other academic abilities
Lack of adequate student progress despite effective classroom instruction