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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the program requiring dyslexia screening and testing in |
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public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.003, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (c-1) and adding Subsection |
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(c-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) Students enrolling in public schools in this state shall |
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be screened or tested, as appropriate, for dyslexia and related |
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disorders at appropriate times in accordance with a program |
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approved by the agency [State Board of Education]. The program must |
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include screening at the end of the school year of each student in |
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kindergarten and each student in the first grade. |
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(b) In accordance with the program approved by the agency |
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[State Board of Education], the board of trustees of each school |
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district shall provide for the treatment of any student determined |
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to have dyslexia or a related disorder. |
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(c) Subject to Subsection (c-1), the agency [State Board of |
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Education] shall adopt any rules and standards necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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(c-1) The agency by rule shall develop procedures designed |
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to allow the agency to: |
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(1) effectively audit and monitor and periodically |
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conduct site visits of all school districts to ensure that |
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districts are complying with this section, including the program |
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approved by the agency [State Board of Education] under this |
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section; |
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(2) identify any problems school districts experience |
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in complying with this section, including the program approved by |
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the agency [State Board of Education] under this section; and |
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(3) develop reasonable and appropriate remedial |
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strategies to address school district noncompliance and ensure the |
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purposes of this section are accomplished. |
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(c-2) The agency by rule shall develop a procedure for the |
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parent or legal guardian of a student determined to have dyslexia or |
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a related disorder or accommodated because of dyslexia to file a |
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complaint to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and |
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agency rules or standards regarding the screening or testing of the |
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student under Subsection (a) or the student's treatment under |
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Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 2. Section 7.102(c)(28), Education Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board of Education shall transfer its powers, |
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duties, and functions regarding approving a program for testing |
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students for dyslexia and related disorders to the Texas Education |
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Agency. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |