SLS 15RS-798 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 79
BY SENATOR APPEL
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Requests the Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education, the Department of Education, and local school boards to recognize that dyslexia
has significant educational implications.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of
3 Education, and local school boards to recognize that dyslexia has significant
4 educational implications that must be addressed.
5 WHEREAS, dyslexia is defined as an unexpected difficulty in reading for an
6 individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader; it reflects a hardship in
7 acquiring and processing sounds of spoken language which typically impacts speaking,
8 reading, spelling, and often, learning a second language; and
9 WHEREAS, dyslexia is highly prevalent and persistent; in some form, dyslexia
10 affects one out of five individuals; and
11 WHEREAS, dyslexia is a paradox and it is often found that the same individual who
12 has a weakness in decoding or a weakness in reading fluency also has strengths in higher
13 level cognitive functions, such as reasoning, critical thinking, concept formation, and
14 problem solving; and
15 WHEREAS, great progress has been made in understanding dyslexia at a scientific
16 level, including its epidemiology, and cognitive and neurobiological bases; and
17 WHEREAS, diagnosis of dyslexia is critical and it must lead to focused, evidence-
18 based interventions, necessary accommodations, self-awareness, self-empowerment, and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 79
SLS 15RS-798 ORIGINAL
1 success in school and life.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
3 does hereby urge and request the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the
4 Department of Education, and local school boards to recognize that dyslexia has significant
5 educational implications that must be addressed.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
7 president of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state superintendent of
8 education, and the president of the Louisiana School Boards Association.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SR 79 Original 2015 Regular Session Appel
Requests BESE, the Dept. of Education, and local school boards to recognize that dyslexia
has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
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