House Bill 1031 (HB 1031) Dyslexia Therapy Law Update Special Education Directors Statewide Meeting January 31, 2013 Trecina Green, Associate Superintendent Office of Instructional Enhancement

Agenda 1.Statute Overview 2.Statute Requirements 3.Public to Public Application Process 4.Public to Nonpublic Scholarship Application Process 5.Scenarios 6.Additional Guidance 2

3 Statute Overview

The primary author of HB 1031 was Representative Larry Byrd. HB 1031 was signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant on May 23, Statute became effective July 1,

Statute Overview Diagnosis must come from a licensed psychologist, psychometrist, or speech language pathologist. Students diagnosed and served will not necessarily have a ruling under IDEA and/or Section

Statute Overview A diagnosis of dyslexia may be provided by the school district or obtained independently by parents. Once a diagnosis of dyslexia is made, districts must follow IDEA child find procedures to determine next steps. 6

Statute Overview Statute addresses only students in grades K-6. Statute does not prevent students from transferring or applying for the scholarship even if their school district provides comparable services. 7

Statute Overview Statute does not make provision for transfer to out-of-state schools. Statute does not make provision for private independent therapy. 8

Statute Overview Public schools receiving students under the statute must meet certain criteria: – Licensed dyslexia therapists – Daily Orton-Gillingham-based therapy program – Administrator with training in dyslexia – Available space to accommodate students 9

Statute Overview Nonpublic schools receiving students under the statute must meet certain criteria: – State accredited special purpose nonpublic designation – Licensed dyslexia therapists – Daily Orton-Gillingham-based therapy program – Administrator with training in dyslexia 10

11 Requirements for Public Schools

1.Adopt a local board policy about screening students for dyslexia. 2.Screen all students during the 2 nd semester of Kindergarten and during the 1 st semester of First Grade. 12

Requirements for Public Schools 3.Ensure that the screener addresses the following components: – Phonological awareness and phonemic awareness – Sound symbol recognition – Alphabet knowledge – Decoding skills – Encoding skills – Rapid naming 13

Requirements for Public Schools 4.Notify parents if a student fails the dyslexia screener. 5.Accept dyslexia evaluations administered by a licensed psychologist, psychometrist, or speech language pathologist. 14

15 Public to Public Applications

1.Student must have a diagnosis of dyslexia. 2.School must have licensed dyslexia therapists or individuals participating in an approved training program to provide dyslexia therapy to students diagnosed with dyslexia. 3.Administrator must be trained in dyslexia. 16

Public to Public Applications 4.School must provide documentation that personnel are licensed in dyslexia therapy to the MDE Office of Curriculum and Instruction. 5.School must use a daily Orton-Gillingham- based therapy program. 17

Public to Public Applications 6.School must have available space to receive students. 7.Parent requests a transfer from the previous public school to the public school that will be providing the services. 18

Public to Public Applications 8.Parent completes the Dyslexia Therapy Program / Scholarship Application and submits to Office of Curriculum and Instruction. 9.The receiving school district will report the student for purposes of the district’s funding under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP). 19

20 Public to Nonpublic Scholarships

1.Student must have a diagnosis of dyslexia. 2.Student must have been accepted for enrollment at a nonpublic school that meets all criteria. 21

Public to Nonpublic Scholarships 3.Parent completes the Dyslexia Therapy Program / Scholarship Application and submits to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction no later than July 15 th for the upcoming school year. 4.Application packet must include the completed application, proof of enrollment, verification of diagnosis, and a tuition/fee schedule. 22

Public to Nonpublic Scholarships 5.The MDE verifies that the student was enrolled in a public school during the previous school year. Note that the student must have been enrolled at the time that average daily attendance (ADA) was determined for the public school systems. 23

Public to Nonpublic Scholarships 6.Nonpublic schools may receive the dyslexia scholarship for students enrolled in a public school during the previous school year. 24

Public to Nonpublic Scholarships 7.Dyslexia scholarship funding for students who were enrolled in a nonpublic school during the previous school year will be requested in the legislative budget request for the next fiscal year. Funding for students enrolled in a nonpublic school during the previous school year will be based upon the student count submitted by the nonpublic school by June 1 of the previous calendar year and is contingent upon legislative appropriation. 25

26 Dyslexia Therapy Program / Scholarship Application

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28 Scenarios

Scenario #1 The parent of a student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a scholarship to attend a local private school that offers dyslexia therapy, but the school is not designated as a state accredited special purpose nonpublic school. Can the student receive a scholarship under the provisions of the statute? 29

Scenario #1 Can the student receive a scholarship under the provisions of the statute? No. The school does not have the appropriate designation in accordance with the statute. 30

Scenario #2 A student with a diagnosis of dyslexia has been receiving private dyslexia therapy, funded independently by the parents. Can the student receive state funds to cover the therapy expenses? 31

Scenario #2 Can the student receive state funds to cover the therapy expenses? No. Provisions are not made for the funding of private therapy. 32

Scenario #3 The parent of a student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a scholarship to attend an out-of-state private school that specifically serves students with dyslexia. Can the student receive a scholarship under the provisions of the statute to attend the out-of-state school? 33

Scenario #3 Can the student receive a scholarship under the provisions of the statute to attend the out-of-state school? No. The statute does not make provisions for scholarships to out-of-state schools. 34

Scenario #4 The parent of a 5 th grade public school student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a transfer to another local public school district that offers dyslexia therapy to students. Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? 35

Scenario #4 Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? Yes. The student can qualify if the receiving school meets the requirements of the statute (personnel, therapy program, and space). 36

Scenario #5 The parent of a 7 th grade public school student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a transfer to another local public school district that offers dyslexia therapy to students. Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? 37

Scenario #5 Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? No. The statute only allows for student transfers through 6 th grade. 38

Scenario #6 The parent of a 5 th grade public school student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a transfer to another local public school district that offers a dyslexia therapy program that is not Orton-Gillingham based. Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? 39

Scenario #6 Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? No. The statute only allows for students to transfer to programs that are Orton-Gillingham based. Even if the therapy was provided by licensed dyslexia therapists, students would not be able to transfer due to the type of program. 40

Scenario #7 The parent of a 5 th grade public school student with a diagnosis of dyslexia is requesting a transfer to another local public school district that offers Orton-Gillingham- based dyslexia therapy, provided twice weekly. Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? 41

Scenario #7 Can the student qualify for a transfer under the provisions of the statute? No. The statute only allows for students to transfer to programs that are provided on a daily basis. 42

Scenario #8 A homeschooled student enrolls in a public school in January of a given year, after being diagnosed with dyslexia. Can the student receive a scholarship to a state accredited special purpose nonpublic school for the upcoming academic year? 43

Scenario #8 Can the student receive a scholarship to a state accredited special purpose nonpublic school for the upcoming academic year? No. Since the student was not enrolled in a public school at the time when ADA was determined, no funding is available to follow the student. However, the student can qualify for a scholarship during the second year of enrollment at the nonpublic school, pending legislative appropriation. 44

Scenario #9 A student is enrolled at a public school that is providing a daily Orton-Gillingham-based program, taught by licensed dyslexia therapists, and with an administrator trained in dyslexia. Can the student qualify for a transfer to another school? 45

Scenario #9 Can the student qualify for a transfer to another school? Yes. Parents may choose to request a transfer or scholarship, regardless of the therapy offerings at the school where their child is currently enrolled. 46

47 Additional Guidance

Mississippi Best Practices Dyslexia Handbook, 2010 is being revised. Application information is available in the dyslexia section of the Curriculum and Instruction website: Districts may select a dyslexia screener. No particular screener is being endorsed by the MDE. The Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Association (msdta.org) is developing resources.msdta.org 48

Questions questions and/or comments to 49

Contact Information Office of Curriculum and Instruction (Applications) Office of Accreditation (Accreditation of Nonpublic Schools) Office of Special Education (IDEA and Section 504)