HB 1644-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2016 SESSION
16-2888
04/03
HOUSE BILL 1644-FN
AN ACT relative to screening and treatment for dyslexia and related disorders and establishing a reading specialist in the department of education.
SPONSORS: Rep. Balcom, Hills. 21; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Rep. Kidder, Merr. 5; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 4; Rep. Rollo, Straf. 18; Rep. Grenier, Sull. 7; Rep. Ford, Graf. 3; Rep. Buco, Carr. 2; Rep. Verschueren, Straf. 13; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of education to designate a reading specialist to provide support and resources to school districts for identifying and assisting students with dyslexia and related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia and their families.
This bill is a request of the committee to study policies which it determines are necessary for dyslexic students (2015, 172).
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
16-2888
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT relative to screening and treatment for dyslexia and related disorders and establishing a reading specialist in the department of education.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 52 the following new subdivision:
Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders
200:53 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Dyslexia" means a specific learning disability that is:
(a) Neurobiological in origin;
(b) Characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities that typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language; and
(c) Often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.
II. "Related disorders" includes disorders similar to or related to dyslexia, such as a phonological processing disorder, reading fluency disorder, and dysphasia.
200:54 Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders.
I. All students, including English for speakers of other languages students, enrolling in New Hampshire's public schools shall be screened using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) or an equivalent cost effective screener for the identification of characteristics that are associated with risk factors for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia upon entering kindergarten or first grade, and at appropriate times thereafter, to monitor progress. The screening required by this section shall begin no later than January 1, 2018.
II. The student's school district shall provide best practice intervention and support services for any student who is identified as having characteristics that are associated with risk factors for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia.
III. The parent or legal guardian of any student who is identified as having characteristics that are associated with risk factors for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia, shall be notified and provided with all evaluation information and findings, in addition to periodic formal evaluative results based on individual written intervention and support plans developed with the student's parents or legal guardian.
IV. A parent or legal guardian of any student who is identified as having characteristics that are associated with risk factors for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia has the right to submit the results of an independent evaluation from a licensed reading or intervention specialist highly trained in dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia for consideration by the student's school district. A parent or legal guardian who submits an independent evaluation shall assume all fiscal responsibility for that independent evaluation.
200:55 Reading Specialist.
I. No later than January 1, 2017, the commissioner of the department of education shall designate a reading specialist to enable the department to provide school districts with the support and resources necessary to assist students with dyslexia and related disorders and their families. The reading specialist shall provide technical assistance for dyslexia and related disorders to school districts.
II. The reading specialist shall:
(a) Be trained and certified in best practice interventions and treatment models for dyslexia, with expertise in related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
(b) Have a minimum of 3 years of field experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related disorders.
(c) Be responsible for the implementation of professional awareness.
(d) Serve as the primary source of information and support for school districts to address the needs of students with dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
200:56 Teacher Professional Development and Training.
I. No later than September 1, 2017, the reading specialist shall develop and make available a program to ensure all New Hampshire teachers and school administrators have access to materials to support professional awareness of best practices on:
(a) Recognition of the characteristics of dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
(b) Evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
II. The reading specialist and the council for teacher education established in RSA 190 shall collaborate to ensure that all teacher education programs offered at New Hampshire's public institutions of higher education provide explicit professional awareness of best practices on:
(a) Recognition of characteristics of dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
(b) Evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
200:57 Dyslexia Resource Guide. No later than September 1, 2017, the reading specialist shall develop and publish on the department of education's Internet website, a reading support resource guide to be used by school districts as a resource. The reading specialist shall solicit the advice of experts in the fields of dyslexia, related disorders, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in the development of the guide. The reading specialist shall update the guide as necessary.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
16-2888
12/21/15
HB 1644-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to screening and treatment for dyslexia and related disorders and establishing a reading specialist in the department of education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, may increase state expenditures by $98,000 in FY 2017, $96,000 in FY 2018, $101,000 in FY 2019, and $102,000 in FY 2020. There will be no impact on state, county, and local revenue or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill requires the designation of a reading specialist within the Department to provide school districts with the support and resources necessary to assist students with dyslexia and related disorders, and their families. The Department estimates it would need an additional position filled to meet the requirements of this bill. The Department states it would require an Education Consultant II (labor grade 27, step 5, start date 07/01/2016) position with an estimated total salary, benefit, and other costs totaling $98,000 in FY 2017, $96,000 in FY 2018, $101,000 in FY 2019, and $102,000 in FY 2020.
This bill provides neither appropriation nor authorization for additional positions.