HB1231 creates a dyslexia and literacy task force, reading instruction competency for teacher licensure, and the dyslexia screening and intervention program.
The North Dakota State House of Representatives passed HB1231 on April 25, 2023 by a vote of 85 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is something that schools and the government should not be involved in. Mandatory dyslexia screening would require students to undergo a specific assessment to identify learning disabilities. This process could involve the collection of sensitive personal information and medical data, raising privacy concerns for both students and their families. This infringes upon an individual’s right to privacy, which is protected under the U.S. Constitution. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, and requiring students to undergo this screening is in violation of this constitutionally-protected right.