S.B. No. 866
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the education of public school students with dyslexia,
  the education and training of educators who teach students with
  dyslexia, and the assessment of students with dyslexia attending an
  institution of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 21.044.  EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a)  The board shall
  propose rules establishing the training requirements a person must
  accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter
  an induction-year program. The board shall specify the minimum
  academic qualifications required for a certificate.
         (b)  Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate
  specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a
  bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as
  part of the curriculum for that degree, instruction in detection
  and education of students with dyslexia.  This subsection does not
  apply to a person who obtains a certificate through an alternative
  certification program adopted under Section 21.049.
         (c)  The instruction under Subsection (b) must:
               (1)  be developed by a panel of experts in the diagnosis
  and treatment of dyslexia who are:
                     (A)  employed by institutions of higher
  education; and
                     (B)  approved by the board; and
               (2)  include information on:
                     (A)  characteristics of dyslexia;
                     (B)  identification of dyslexia; and
                     (C)  effective, multisensory strategies for
  teaching students with dyslexia.
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
         (b)  Continuing education requirements for an educator who
  teaches students with dyslexia must include training regarding new
  research and practices in educating students with dyslexia.
         (c)  The training required under Subsection (b) may be
  offered in an online course.
         SECTION 3.  Section 38.003, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  Unless otherwise provided by law, a student
  determined to have dyslexia during testing under Subsection (a) or
  accommodated because of dyslexia may not be retested for dyslexia
  for the purpose of reassessing the student's need for
  accommodations until the district reevaluates the information
  obtained from previous testing of the student.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 38.0031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 38.0031.  CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY PLAN FOR STUDENTS WITH
  DYSLEXIA. (a)  The agency shall establish a committee to develop a
  plan for integrating technology into the classroom to help
  accommodate students with dyslexia.  The plan must:
               (1)  determine the classroom technologies that are
  useful and practical in assisting public schools in accommodating
  students with dyslexia, considering budget constraints of school
  districts; and
               (2)  develop a strategy for providing those effective
  technologies to students.
         (b)  The agency shall provide the plan and information about
  the availability and benefits of the technologies identified under
  Subsection (a)(1) to school districts.
         (c)  A member of the committee established under Subsection
  (a) is not entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred
  by the member under this section unless agency funds are available
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9701 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9701.  ASSESSMENT FOR DYSLEXIA. Unless otherwise
  provided by law, an institution of higher education, as defined by
  Section 61.003, may not reassess a student determined to have
  dyslexia for the purpose of assessing the student's need for
  accommodations until the institution of higher education
  reevaluates the information obtained from previous assessments of
  the student.
         SECTION 6.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and
  (c) of this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012
  school year.
         (b)  Subsection (b), Section 21.044, Education Code, as
  added by this Act, applies beginning with persons who commence
  enrollment in an institution of higher education during the
  2011-2012 academic year.
         (c)  Section 51.9701, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  applies beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 866 passed the Senate on
  April 19, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 866 passed the House on
  May 19, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor