21st Century Dyslexia Act
Latest action (30 Jul 2026): Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
What this bill does
S. 3010, the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, would amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to add explicit references to dyslexia in federal special education law. It would insert a formal definition of dyslexia—describing it as an unexpected difficulty in reading, most commonly linked to difficulty processing the sounds of spoken language—into IDEA's definitions section, and would clarify related language on specific learning disabilities. The bill also adds a new section requiring that when a local educational agency or other agency determines eligibility for, or provides, accommodations or services under IDEA, it must provide equal access to those accommodations and services to all eligible children, explicitly including children from low-income families, children from families with low socioeconomic status, and children with limited English proficiency.
The bill primarily affects students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, their families, and the school districts and other agencies responsible for identifying and serving them under IDEA. By naming dyslexia directly in federal law and requiring equal access to services regardless of income or English proficiency, it is intended to standardize how schools recognize and support affected students.
The bill was introduced October 15, 2025, by Senator Bill Cassidy with several cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. On August 5, 2026, the committee ordered it reported without amendment. It now awaits further action, such as scheduling for a full Senate vote.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
21st Century Dyslexia Act
This bill addresses the education of children with disabilities, with a particular focus on children with dyslexia.
Currently, dyslexia is listed as one of the disabilities under the definition of specific learning disability in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This bill instead removes dyslexia from the definition of specific learning disability and establishes a stand-alone definition for dyslexia within the IDEA.
Specifically, the bill defines dyslexia for purposes of the IDEA as an unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, most commonly caused by a difficulty in the phonological processing (the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language), which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell.
Additionally, the bill requires a local educational agency or other agency, in determining eligibility for or providing an accommodation or service under the IDEA, to provide equal access to (1) children from low-income families, (2) children from families with low socioeconomic status, and (3) children who are limited English proficient.
Timeline
30 Jul 2026
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 3010 do?
- S. 3010, the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, would amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to add explicit references to dyslexia in federal special education law. It would insert a formal definition of dyslexia—describing it as an unexpected difficulty in reading, most commonly linked to difficulty processing the sounds of spoken language—into IDEA's definitions section, and would clarify related language on specific learning disabilities. The bill also adds a new section requiring that when a local educational agency or other agency determines eligibility for, or provides, accommodations or services under IDEA, it must provide equal access to those accommodations and services to all eligible children, explicitly including children from low-income families, children from families with low socioeconomic status, and children with limited English proficiency. The bill primarily affects students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, their families, and the school districts and other agencies responsible for identifying and serving them under IDEA. By naming dyslexia directly in federal law and requiring equal access to services regardless of income or English proficiency, it is intended to standardize how schools recognize and support affected students. The bill was introduced October 15, 2025, by Senator Bill Cassidy with several cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. On August 5, 2026, the committee ordered it reported without amendment. It now awaits further action, such as scheduling for a full Senate vote.
- Has S. 3010 become law?
- Not yet. As of 30 Jul 2026, S. 3010 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 3010?
- S. 3010 was sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy [R-LA] (Republican-LA), with 5 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 3010?
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. (30 Jul 2026).
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