(1) When a student is suspected of having an early reading deficiency or dyslexia, the participating school district shall notify the student's parent or guardian that the student, as part of the pilot program, is eligible to receive reading intervention services to measure the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs. The participating school district shall require the parent or guardian to indicate in writing that the parent or guardian voluntarily and knowingly consents to the student's continued participation in the pilot program. Each participating school district shall provide to the parent or guardian of the student suspected of having an early reading deficiency or dyslexia information about early reading deficiencies and dyslexia and recommended evidence-based resources and interventions.

(2) Participation in the pilot program, screening or intervention assistance does not preclude a parent or guardian from requesting an evaluation for special education at any time, including prior to or during the course of early intervention assistance.

(1) Each participating school district shall annually report to the department data and information about the operation of the pilot program, in the manner prescribed by the department.

(2) The department shall contract with a nationally recognized educational evaluation institution or organization to provide an evaluation of the pilot program to review the effectiveness of evidence-based early reading assistance programs for students with risk factors for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia and to determine if the programs reduce special education costs. The evaluation shall be published on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.