85R6158 GCB-D
By: Miller H.B. No. 1886
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to dyslexia testing, the designation by the Texas
Education Agency of a dyslexia specialist, and the development by
the agency of a list of training opportunities for educators
regarding dyslexia.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 38.003(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Students enrolling in public schools in this state shall
be tested for dyslexia and related disorders at appropriate times
in accordance with a program approved by the State Board of
Education. The program must include testing each student on
enrollment in kindergarten and testing each student in the first
grade at the end of the school year.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.0032 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0032. DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST; DYSLEXIA TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES. (a) The agency shall designate an agency employee as
a dyslexia specialist to provide school districts with support and
resources that are necessary to assist students with dyslexia and
the families of students with dyslexia.
(b) The agency shall annually develop a list of training
opportunities regarding dyslexia that satisfy the requirements of
Section 21.054(b). The list of training opportunities must include
at least one opportunity that is available online.
(c) A training opportunity included in the list developed
under Subsection (b) must:
(1) comply with the knowledge and practice standards
of an international organization on dyslexia; and
(2) enable an educator to:
(A) understand and recognize dyslexia; and
(B) implement instruction that is systematic,
explicit, and evidence-based to meet the educational needs of a
student with dyslexia.
SECTION 3. Section 38.003(a), Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.