Approval of Proposed Updates to The Dyslexia Handbook:
Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders
September 24, 2010
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item recommends approval of updated language in The Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §38.003.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) first approved the handbook Dyslexia and Related Disorders: An Overview of State and Federal Requirements in January 1986. The SBOE approved new guidelines referred to as the Revised Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders in 1992 and revised the guidelines in 1998. In 2001, the SBOE approved The Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders, an updated version of the state handbook. In November 2006, the SBOE approved revisions to the handbook in order to reflect changes to the Texas Education Code (TEC) with the addition of TEC, §7.028(b); and revision to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.28(h).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The SBOE first approved the handbook Dyslexia and Related Disorders: An Overview of State and Federal Requirements in January 1986 in support of dyslexia legislation passed by the Texas Legislature. The SBOE approved new guidelines referred to as the Revised Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders in 1992 and revised the guidelines in 1998. In 2001, the SBOE approved The Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders, an updated version of the state handbook. In November 2006, the SBOE approved revisions to the handbook in order to reflect changes to the Texas Education Code (TEC) with the addition of TEC, §7.028(b); and revision to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.28(h). The revised version, known as The Dyslexia Handbook – Revised 2007: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders, also included information related to the bundled accommodations and reauthorization of the 2004 federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).
In August 2010, a committee was convened to recommend updates to the handbook. The committee’s recommendations will be provided to the board as a separate exhibit at the September meeting.
The handbook contains the SBOE-approved procedures concerning dyslexia and related disorders and provides guidelines for school districts to follow as they identify and provide services for students with dyslexia. Additionally, the handbook provides school districts and parents/guardians with information regarding the state’s dyslexia statutes and their relation to federal laws.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Districts and schools will have an accurate set of guidelines and information for providing services to students with dyslexia and related disorders and for complying with state law regarding these students.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve the proposed updates to The Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Norma Torres-Martinez, Deputy Associate Commissioner
Standards and Alignment
Monica Martinez, Managing Director
Curriculum
Attachment:
Statutory Citations
Separate Exhibit:
The Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders
(to be provided at the September SBOE meeting)