NCLD Opposes Efforts to Fast-Track the 21st Century Dyslexia Act

Leading disability organizations have raised serious concerns about the bill and are urging the Senate not to move it forward by unanimous consent.

WASHINGTON, DC — August 7, 2026 — The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) strongly opposes any efforts to fast-track the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. Despite concerns for years by the disability community, this bill advanced out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Those concerns remain unresolved, and Congress should not move this legislation forward without addressing them.  

Just last week, NCLD and leading disability, learning disability, dyslexia, education, and literacy organizations raised serious concerns about this legislation after it advanced out of the Senate HELP Committee. The proposal lacks support from leading organizations representing the communities it would directly affect, and those concerns have not been addressed. 

NCLD shares the goal of improving how students with dyslexia are identified and supported. But achieving that goal requires policy that reflects current research and strengthens, rather than disrupts, the systems already in place to serve students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. The approach taken in the 21st Century Dyslexia Act does not meet that standard. 

Many states have already moved away from the approaches this bill would promote. In fact, 20 states currently discourage or reject them when determining eligibility for a specific learning disability. Said plainly, the model of identification within this bill has been rejected by the scientific community  because it fails students during the identification process.  Forcing states and districts to change course now would create unnecessary disruption for schools, students, and families.

A bill that would make changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should not be rushed through the Senate without the opportunity for fuller debate and scrutiny. That is all the more reason for Congress to slow down, listen to students, families, educators, researchers, and disability advocates, and work toward an approach that  has their input and support, and is grounded in consensus research and evidence. 

The concerns raised by the disability community deserve to be heard and addressed before Senators are asked to allow this legislation to pass by unanimous consent.

We urge Congress to oppose any effort to pass the 21st Century Dyslexia Act by unanimous consent and instead ensure that the legislation receives the careful consideration and stakeholder input that students and families deserve.