Colorado Enacts Universal Dyslexia Screening Law for Early Elementary Students

In a significant move to support students with learning differences, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-200 into law on May 23, 2025. This legislation mandates universal dyslexia screenings for all public school students in kindergarten through third grade, starting in the 2027–28 academic year.

The bill, a bipartisan effort sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker (D-Centennial) and Kyle Mullica (D-Thornton), along with Representatives Eliza Hamrick (D-Centennial) and Matt Soper (R-Delta), aims to ensure early identification and intervention for students exhibiting signs of dyslexia. Under the new law, schools are required to either adopt a universal dyslexia screening tool or develop a process to identify students in early elementary grades who display characteristics of dyslexia.

During the signing ceremony at Lukas Elementary School in Westminster, Governor Polis highlighted the personal significance of the bill, noting that both his father and fifth-grade daughter have dyslexia. Senator Mullica also shared his family’s experiences, emphasizing the mental health challenges his daughter faced due to undiagnosed dyslexia.

Advocates have long pushed for such legislation, citing the importance of early detection in providing effective support for students with dyslexia. Prior to this law, Colorado was one of only seven states without a mandate for dyslexia screening in schools.

The implementation of universal dyslexia screening is expected to facilitate timely interventions, helping students overcome reading challenges and succeed academically.

For more detailed information on this development, refer to the original article: coloradosun.com.