Dyslexia services shift From the cover
Dyslexic student enrollment over time
Zooming in
Current situation
The new bill shifts the evaluation process to see if students qualify for special education instruction, EISD Special Education Director Matt Zemo said. Under the new law, required participation in ARD meetings takes away time from working directly with students, increasing the caseload for special education staff, LTISD and LISD officials said. In LISD, the district has accrued expenses to train and incentivize staff as well as hire two new posi- tions to meet the new requirements, which were implemented without additional state funding. LISD and EISD are providing financial incentives for teachers to get their special education certifi- cations so they can manage student cases, district officials said.
Eanes ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander ISD
The new state law requires Texas districts to transition all students needing dyslexia instruction from a Section 504 Plan to an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, by the start of the 2025-26 school year. Both 504 Plans and IEPs accommodate individuals with disabilities, but IEPs outline academic goals and specialized instruction created through Admission, Review and Dismissal committee meetings, or ARD meetings, according to the National Education Association. The bill mandates that certain staff must have advanced qualifications to participate in ARD meetings, which may require additional education and training. To evaluate students, these staff must either: be a licensed dyslexia therapist, have “the most advanced dyslexia- related certification,” or meet additional training requirements adopted by the State Board of Education. In Leander ISD, the transition from 504 Plans more than doubles the amount of dyslexic students needing IEPs, going from 1,065 to over 2,200 based on 2023-24 enrollment.
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Special education enrollment over time
Also of note
A 2016 investigation by the Houston Chronicle found that the Texas Education Agency penalized districts when their special education enrollment surpassed 8.5% of students. A corrective action plan issued by the U.S. Department of Education in 2018 included concerns about the exclusion of dyslexia from special education services. The new protocol has resulted in an increase in students receiving special education services in both LTISD and LISD, district officials said. In LTISD, enrollment for special education students has grown at a faster rate than enrollment for students receiving general education instruction, Superintendent Paul Norton said at an Aug. 21 board of trustees meeting.
Eanes ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander ISD
16%
14%
“If you bring more expertise to the individual who’s involved, the student will respond better to the services because they’re being delivered appropriately and adequately.” STEVEN ALEMAN, SENIOR POLICY SPECIALIST FOR NONPROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP DISABILITY RIGHTS TEXAS
12%
10%
8%
6%
0%
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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