Hickenlooper, Cassidy Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Children with Dyslexia

Senators also introduced bipartisan resolution recognizing National Dyslexia Awareness Month
WASHINGTON –
Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Bill Cassidy reintroduced the
21st Century Dyslexia Act
, legislation that incorporates the modern, scientific understanding of dyslexia into federal statute and prevents the harm unidentified dyslexia can inflict on young students.
“Better early screening, more awareness, and modern tools will help make sure kids with dyslexia are diagnosed early. These resources are inexpensive and immensely valuable. I know – I lived it,”
said Hickenlooper, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
“Despite dyslexia impacting one in five Americans, students are rarely tested,”
said Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
“This legislation brings a common-sense approach to dyslexia, ensuring students have the resources they need to reach their full potential.”
Currently, dyslexia is included as one of many neurocognitive differences under “Specific Learning Disabilities” (SLD) in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Despite dyslexia being the most prevalent neurocognitive difference within SLD, students are rarely tested. This prevents them from getting the services and accommodations necessary to assist dyslexic students learning to read. When children are not identified with dyslexia, evidence shows lifelong harm can occur, including
lower career wages
,
reduced graduation rates
, and
increased rates of incarceration
.
This legislation helps students by pulling dyslexia out of the overly broad definition of SLD and including it in the list of disabilities that define a “child with a disability,” thus classifying dyslexia as its own category within IDEA.
U.S. Representatives Erin Houchin, Julia Brownley, and Bruce Westerman introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hickenlooper and Cassidy
originally introduced
the legislation in the 118th Congress.
Hickenlooper and Cassidy also introduced a
bipartisan resolution
recognizing October 2025 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month. U.S. Representatives Bruce Westerman, Julia Brownley, and Erin Houchin are leading a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read the full bill text
HERE
. Read the full text of the resolution
HERE
.
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