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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 62
BY SENATORS SMITH AND MOUNT
BESE. Requests BESE to review rules and regulations for the education of dyslexic students
and procedures for compliance monitoring of schools and school districts.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study and review2
the clarity of board regulations and guidelines relative to the education of dyslexic3
students and the effectiveness of procedures for monitoring the compliance of public4
schools and school districts when implementing such regulations and related state5
law.6
WHEREAS, dyslexia, a language based learning disorder characterized by problems7
with reading, spelling, and writing, is widely recognized as the most common learning8
disorder and the leading cause of reading deficits in children, affecting as much as fifteen9
to twenty percent of the population; and10
WHEREAS, reading is the basic skill that serves as the foundation for the mastery11
of all other school subjects, and a lack of proficiency in this essential skill often results in12
a gap between a child's true ability and his or her academic performance; and13
WHEREAS, approximately seventy-four percent of children who do not receive14
appropriate educational intervention for dyslexia before the third grade have been found to15
still have poor reading skills by the time they reach the ninth grade; and16
WHEREAS, early detection and appropriate intervention are critical to helping17
children with dyslexia and related learning disorders attain the developmental and18 SCR NO. 62
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educational skills necessary for them to remain in a regular education classroom setting and1
prevent the need for special education referral and services; and2
WHEREAS, current state law requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary3
Education and city, parish, and other local public school boards to ensure that students with4
dyslexia and related disorders be properly identified and provided with educational programs5
and targeted interventions necessary to address their learning needs; and6
WHEREAS, there are concerns that the policies and guidelines promulgated by the7
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as contained in Bulletin 1903 -8
Regulations and Guidelines for Implementation of the Louisiana Law for the Education of9
Dyslexic Students, may not clearly convey statutory requirements with respect to the10
identification and education of dyslexic students, and that state board policy and regulations11
are not being properly interpreted and implemented by local school boards, thereby12
preventing students with dyslexia from receiving the services they critically need to succeed13
in school and in life.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
urge and request the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study and review the16
clarity of board regulations and guidelines relative to the education of dyslexic students and17
the effectiveness of procedures for monitoring the compliance of public schools and school18
districts when implementing such regulations and related state law.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board submit a written report of its findings20
and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on21
Education not later than February 15, 2011.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the23
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state24
superintendent of education.25 SCR NO. 62
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Smith SCR No.
Requests BESE to study and review the clarity of board regulations and guidelines relative
to the education of dyslexic students and the effectiveness of procedures for monitoring the
compliance of public schools and school districts when implementing such regulations and
related state law.