I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4261 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 2004 Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Wynn, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Lee, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rush, Mr. Hastings of Florida, and Mr. Ballance) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to States to establish statewide screening programs for children who are 5 to 7 years of age to prevent reading failure.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reading Failure Prevention Act of 2004.

2.

Grants for screening to prevent reading failure

(a)

Grants

The Secretary of Education may make grants to States to establish statewide screening programs for children who are 5 to 7 years of age for the prevention of reading failure. (b)

Use of funds

The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under this section unless the State agrees to use the grant for the following: (1)Development and implementation of a statewide screening program for children who are 5 to 7 years of age to prevent reading failure by screening such children for traits that indicate the children have dyslexia or are otherwise at risk of reading failure. (2)Providing adequate professional development for personnel who administer screening programs under this section. (c)

Determination of traits

The Secretary, using reliable, replicated, and scientifically based research, shall enumerate specific traits that may be screened under this section to determine whether a child has dyslexia or is otherwise at risk of reading failure. (d)

Application

To seek a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (e)

Definitions

In this section: (1)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. (2)The term State includes the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.