LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 27, 2017

TO:
Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1886 by Miller (Relating to dyslexia screening and testing in public schools, the employment of dyslexia specialists by regional education service centers, the development of a list of training opportunities for educators regarding dyslexia, and transition planning for students enrolled in a special education program.), Conference Committee Report

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Education Code to require screening or testing of all students for dyslexia upon enrollment in kindergarten and testing each student in the first grade at the end of the school year. The bill would require each regional education service center to employ a dyslexia specialist and would specify persons eligible for the position. The bill would require TEA to annually develop a list of training opportunities that comply with the knowledge and practice standards of an international organization on dyslexia and enable an educator to understand and recognize dyslexia and implement certain evidence-based instruction. The bill would require at least one training opportunity to be available online.

The bill would change the requirements related to transition planning for students with disabilities who receive special education services. The bill would expand the requirements for what must be provided to students and their families; update certain minimum training guidelines; amend requirements for the transition and employment guide; and amend information to be included in a required notice.

The bill would take effect immediately if passed with necessary voting margins, or September 1, 2017. Provisions related to dyslexia services would apply beginning school year 2017-18. Provisions related to transition planning would apply beginning school year 2018-19.

Local Government Impact

School districts and open-enrollment charter school would incur costs associated with the required screening or testing at kindergarten and first grade. Assuming that most districts would choose to screen students, the cost of a typical dyslexia screener ranges from $2 to $10 per student. According to TEA, there were 376,814 kindergarten students and 409,977 first grade students enrolled in school year 2015-16. Assuming a cost of $5 per student, the statewide local cost to assess all kindergarten students would be $1.8 million ($5 per student x 376,814 students), with additional cost of $2 million ($5 per student X 409,977 students) to assess all first grade students. TEA indicates that many districts already use certain reading assessments that may also be used to as a dyslexia screener; therefore, these costs would vary among districts.

Additionally, districts and charters may opt to test students for dyslexia. The cost of a typical dyslexia test range from $500 to $1,000 per student. Cost related to testing would also vary among districts depending on the number of students tested.

Education Service Centers (ESCs) may incur additional costs related to employing a dyslexia specialist with the qualifications as specified in the bill; however, TEA indicates that each ESC already employs a dyslexia specialist so these costs would be minimal.


Source Agencies:
701 Texas Education Agency
LBB Staff:
UP, AW, THo, AM