H.B. 1691 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1691 By: Phillips Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Dyslexia is a developmental disability that generally becomes evident in early schooling and is a permanent disorder that affects a person's ability to process, understand, recall and express information. School districts are required to provide for the treatment of students with dyslexia. Under current law, a school district is entitled to compensatory education funding to provide services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or who are at risk of dropping out of school. However, a school district is prohibited from using compensatory education funds for a program provided for dyslexic students under Section 38.003, Education Code. PURPOSE House Bill 1691 allows compensatory education funds to be used for accelerated reading programs for students at risk of dyslexia and for treatment programs for students determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1691 amends the Education Code to authorize a school district to use its compensatory education funds for an accelerated reading instruction program that addresses reading deficiencies or for a treatment program for students who have dyslexia or a related disorder. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.