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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 164
BY SENATOR CHABERT
BESE. 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 Senate 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 SR NO. 164
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WHEREAS, many of the characteristics that children may bring to school with them1
are products of learning disorders and social or environmental risk factors that if identified2
and addressed can be mitigated or alleviated; and3
WHEREAS, students with dyslexia are often characterized as having difficulties with4
processing expressive or receptive, oral or written language despite adequate intelligence,5
educational exposure, and cultural opportunities, and specific manifestations may occur in6
one or more areas, including difficulty with the alphabet, reading comprehension, writing,7
and spelling; and8
WHEREAS, related disorders include disorders similar to or related to dyslexia, such9
as developmental auditory imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia,10
developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability; and11
WHEREAS, current law (R.S. 17:392.1) requires that every child in public school12
in kindergarten through grade three be screened for the existence of impediments to a13
successful school experience including dyslexia and related disorders; and14
WHEREAS, in addition, current law (R.S. 17:7(11)) requires the State Board of15
Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt and provide for the implementation of a16
program for students enrolling in public schools to be tested for dyslexia and related17
disorders as may be necessary; and18
WHEREAS, current law (R.S. 17:2112) provides that upon the request of a parent,19
student, school nurse, classroom teacher, or other school employee who has reason to believe20
that a student needs to be tested for dyslexia, such student shall be referred to the school21
building level committee for additional testing; and22
WHEREAS, current law requires that a priority shall be placed on screenings23
conducted for students referred for screening pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11); and24
WHEREAS, state law also requires that children in need of services and assistance25
shall be provided such services and assistance and that services for disorders shall be26
provided in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11); and27
WHEREAS, in addition to these statutory provisions, the Legislature enacted R.S.28
17:24.11 in 2007 that requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to29
develop and implement a pilot program to provide for universal screening of students in30 SR NO. 164
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kindergarten through grade three for characteristics of dyslexia and related disorders and1
specifies that the program shall include the screening for every such student at least twice2
a year, periodic progress monitoring of every student identified with characteristics of3
dyslexia or a related disorder, implementation of appropriate remediation or intervention4
strategies to meet student needs, and training and professional development to provide5
teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement specialized instructional6
intervention strategies; and7
WHEREAS, regulations as adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary8
Education (Bulletin 1903: Regulations for the Implementation of Louisiana Law for the9
Education of Dyslexic Students) state that the Multisensory Structured Language programs10
provided by local school systems shall consist of specific content components and a delivery11
system as described in the bulletin; and12
WHEREAS, despite the requirements of these laws and regulations, there are many13
students in this state who have not been properly identified and many who have been14
identified as either demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia or related disorders or having15
dyslexia or related disorders who have not received educational programs or services to16
address their learning needs; and17
WHEREAS, by the enactment over the past two decades of these laws, the legislature18
has clearly expressed its intent regarding the importance of the early identification of19
students with dyslexia and related disorders and the need for intervention and the delivery20
of appropriate educational programs and services to these students, including the use of all21
resources and funding available to address any difficulty or impediment a student may have22
in order for each student to have a successful school experience, receive a quality education,23
and develop to his full potential.24
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana25
does hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to26
study issues relative to dyslexia and related disorders, including but not limited to current27
methods for the identification of students with dyslexia or related disorders, the adequacy28
of educational programs and services provided to such students, the adequacy of funding29
provided for such programs and services, appropriate training for teachers and other school30 SR NO. 164
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employees in providing instruction to students identified with dyslexia or related disorders,1
and the extent to which local school systems in the state are in compliance with current state2
laws and policies of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education relative to3
these issues, and to report the study findings and recommendations, in writing, to the Senate4
Committee on Education by not later than October 1, 2010.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the issues that the board6
determines are relevant and necessary to the study, the board is also requested to address all7
of the same issues as contained in House Concurrent Resolution No. 202 of the 2001 Regular8
Session of the Legislature especially as it relates to the following:9
(1) The identification of any successful programs as implemented by public school10
systems pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:7(11) and the aspects and components of such11
programs.12
(2) The total number of teachers in each public school system who are trained in a13
Multisensory Structured Language program or programs at each grade level and the total14
number of days or hours of such training that each teacher has received.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting such study, the State Board of16
Elementary and Secondary Education shall include participation by educators and others17
with expertise in dyslexia and related disorders including but not limited to classroom and18
structured language teachers, speech/language pathologists, psychologists, educational19
diagnosticians, reading specialists, and faculty members from the colleges of education at20
the state's postsecondary education institutions.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted22
to the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state23
superintendent of education.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Chabert SR No.
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 SR NO. 164
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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
for a written report to the Senate education committee by Oct. 1, 2010, and provides for
participation by educators and others with expertise in dyslexia and related disorders.