85R11769 GCB-D
By: Miller, Bonnen of Brazoria, Zerwas, H.B. No. 1886
Guillen, Fallon, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to dyslexia screening and testing, the employment of
dyslexia specialists by regional education service centers, and the
development by the Texas Education Agency of a list of training
opportunities for educators regarding dyslexia.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 8, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 8.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 8.061. DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST. Each regional education
service center shall employ as a dyslexia specialist a person
licensed as a dyslexia therapist under Chapter 403, Occupations
Code, to provide school districts served by the center with support
and resources that are necessary to assist students with dyslexia
and the families of students with dyslexia.
SECTION 2. Sections 38.003(a) and (b-1), Education Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) Students enrolling in public schools in this state shall
be screened or tested, as appropriate, for dyslexia and related
disorders at appropriate times in accordance with a program
approved by the State Board of Education. The program must include
screening at the end of the school year of each student in
kindergarten and each student in the first grade.
(b-1) Unless otherwise provided by law, a student
determined to have dyslexia during screening or testing under
Subsection (a) or accommodated because of dyslexia may not be
rescreened or retested for dyslexia for the purpose of reassessing
the student's need for accommodations until the district
reevaluates the information obtained from previous screening or
testing of the student.
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.0032 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0032. DYSLEXIA TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. (a) 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.
(b) A training opportunity included in the list developed
under Subsection (a) 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 4. Section 38.003, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
SECTION 5. 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.