A Senate panel on Wednesday approved a package of bills to enhance the education of students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. The package was given the green light by the full Assembly earlier this year.

The first bill requires that all public school teachers go through 20 hours of professional development devoted to reading disabilities. Current regulations already require 100 hours of professional development over five years, but with this measure, 20 of those hours would have to be made up of instruction on the screening, intervention, accommodation and use of technology for students with reading disabilities.

The second bill directs the state Board of Education to incorporate the International Dyslexia Association's definition of dyslexia into its special education regulations.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM