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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 185
BY REPRESENTATIVE DOVE
STUDENTS: Requests BESE to study issues relative to dyslexia and related disorders
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study issues2
relative to dyslexia and related disorders, including but not limited to current3
methods for the identification of students with dyslexia or related disorders, the4
adequacy of educational programs and services provided to such students, the5
adequacy of funding provided for such programs and services, appropriate training6
for teachers and other school employees in providing instruction to students7
identified with dyslexia or related disorders, and the extent to which local school8
systems in the state are in compliance with current state laws and policies of the9
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education relative to these issues, and to10
report the study findings and recommendations, in writing, to the House Committee11
on Education by not later than October 1, 2010. 12
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana provides that it is the goal of the state's13
public educational system to afford every individual an equal opportunity to develop to his14
full potential; and15
WHEREAS, the legislature acknowledges that identification of and adjustment to the16
individual characteristics that determine a child's academic needs will improve a child's17
opportunity to succeed in school and to develop to his full potential; and18
WHEREAS, many of the characteristics that children may bring to school with them19
are products of learning disorders and social or environmental risk factors that if identified20
and addressed can be mitigated or alleviated; and 21 HLS 10RS-5805 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, students with dyslexia are often characterized as having difficulties with1
processing expressive or receptive, oral or written language despite adequate intelligence,2
educational exposure, and cultural opportunities, and specific manifestations may occur in3
one or more areas, including difficulty with the alphabet, reading comprehension, writing,4
and spelling; and5
WHEREAS, related disorders include disorders similar to or related to dyslexia, such6
as developmental auditory imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia,7
developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability; and8
WHEREAS, current law (R.S. 17:392.1) requires that every child in public school9
in kindergarten through grade three be screened for the existence of impediments to a10
successful school experience including dyslexia and related disorders; and11
WHEREAS, in addition, current law (R.S. 17:7(11)) requires the State Board of12
Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt and provide for the implementation of a13
program for students enrolling in public schools to be tested for dyslexia and related14
disorders as may be necessary; and15
WHEREAS, current law (R.S. 17:2112) provides that upon the request of a parent,16
student, school nurse, classroom teacher, or other school employee who has reason to believe17
that a student needs to be tested for dyslexia, such student shall be referred to the school18
building level committee for additional testing; and19
WHEREAS, current law requires that a priority shall be placed on screenings20
conducted for students referred for screening pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11); and21
WHEREAS, state law also requires that children in need of services and assistance22
shall be provided such services and assistance and that services for disorders shall be23
provided in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11); and24
WHEREAS, in addition to these statutory provisions, the Legislature enacted R.S.25
17:24.11 in 2007 that requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to26
develop and implement a pilot program to provide for universal screening of students in27
kindergarten through grade three for characteristics of dyslexia and related disorders and28
specifies that the program shall include the screening for every such student at least twice29
a year, periodic progress monitoring of every student identified with characteristics of30 HLS 10RS-5805 ORIGINAL
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dyslexia or a related disorder, implementation of appropriate remediation or intervention1
strategies to meet student needs, and training and professional development to provide2
teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement specialized instructional3
intervention strategies; and4
WHEREAS, regulations as adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary5
Education (Bulletin 1903: Regulations for the Implementation of Louisiana Law for the6
Education of Dyslexic Students) state that the Multisensory Structured Language programs7
provided by local school systems shall consist of specific content components and a delivery8
system as described in the bulletin; and9
WHEREAS, despite the requirements of these laws and regulations, there are many10
students in this state who have not been properly identified and many who have been11
identified as either demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia or related disorders or having12
dyslexia or related disorders who have not received educational programs or services to13
address their learning needs; and 14
WHEREAS, by the enactment over the past two decades of these laws, the legislature15
has clearly expressed its intent regarding the importance of the early identification of16
students with dyslexia and related disorders and the need for intervention and the delivery17
of appropriate educational programs and services to these students, including the use of all18
resources and funding available to address any difficulty or impediment a student may have19
in order for each student to have a successful school experience, receive a quality education,20
and develop to his full potential.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the22
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and23
Secondary Education to study issues relative to dyslexia and related disorders, including but24
not limited to current methods for the identification of students with dyslexia or related25
disorders, the adequacy of educational programs and services provided to such students, the26
adequacy of funding provided for such programs and services, appropriate training for27
teachers and other school employees in providing instruction to students identified with28
dyslexia or related disorders, and the extent to which local school systems in the state are in29
compliance with current state laws and policies of the State Board of Elementary and30 HLS 10RS-5805 ORIGINAL
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Secondary Education relative to these issues, and to report the study findings and1
recommendations, in writing, to the House Committee on Education by not later than2
October 1, 2010.3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the issues that the board4
determines are relevant and necessary to the study, the board is also requested to address all5
of the same issues as contained in House Concurrent Resolution No. 202 of the 2001 Regular6
Session of the Legislature especially as it relates to the following:7
(1) The identification of any successful programs as implemented by public school8
systems pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11) and the aspects and components of such9
programs.10
(2) The total number of teachers in each public school system who are trained in a11
Multisensory Structured Language program or programs at each grade level and the total12
number of days or hours of such training that each teacher has received.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting such study, the State Board of14
Elementary and Secondary Education shall include participation by educators and others15
with expertise in dyslexia and related disorders including but not limited to classroom and16
structured language teachers, speech/language pathologists, psychologists, educational17
diagnosticians, reading specialists, and faculty members from the colleges of education at18
the state's postsecondary education institutions. 19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted20
to the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state21
superintendent of education.22
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Dove HR No. 185
Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to study issues
relative to dyslexia and related disorders including current methods for the identification of
students with dyslexia or related disorders, the adequacy of educational programs and
services provided to such students, the adequacy of funding provided for such programs and
services, appropriate training for teachers and other school employees in providing
instruction to such students, and the extent to which local school systems in the state are in
compliance with current state laws and policies of BESE relative to these issues. Provides HLS 10RS-5805 ORIGINAL
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for a written report to the House education committee by Oct. 1, 2010, and provides for
participation by educators and others with expertise in dyslexia and related disorders.