Legislative Update: 2015 and Beyond

Dr. Diane Cordry GoldenPolicy Coordinator, MO-CASE

What Passed

SB 107 – Changes SLP Licensure and SLP-A Registration

SB 174 - Establishes MO ABLE Act

HB 42 – Transfer Bill (vetoed)

What Did Not Pass – will be back in 2016

Braille Assessment & Instruction

Dyslexia Task Force and DESE staff

Dyslexia Screening and Intervention

Special Education Procedures

SLP Licensure Changes

Eliminates provisional license Masters Degree + passing Praxis = full license New graduates able to bill Medicaid9 month clinical fellowship only for ASHA CCC

January 1, 2016 no public school exception Aligns with current DESE licensure to certification rulesDoes not impact existing stand-alone DESE certificate holders

SLP-A Registration Changes

DESE only certified SLPs can supervise One year experience required to supervise

Practical hour requirements can be outside of bachelors degree program/college transcript

Designation of supervisor after registration

CEU’s can be required for SLP-A registration renewal

Braille Assessment & Instruction

Original bill ◦ required Braille instruction based on

assessment◦ Assessment was National Reading Media

Assessment or other DESE approved assessment

Last version aligned with IDEA◦ IEP team shall provide for instruction in Braille

. . . unless the IEP team determines, after an evaluation of the child's reading and writing skills, needs, and appropriate reading and writing media (including an evaluation of the child's future need for instruction in Braille or the use of Braille), that instruction in Braille or the use of Braille is not appropriate for the child

Why Current Dyslexia Focus?

Federal funding through NIH ◦Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity

◦Phonological processing deficits, not visual deficits are the marker of dyslexia

◦At least 20% of children have dyslexia

◦Used MRI to identify brain area of deficit

◦Support National Reading Panel & Orton-Gillingham - explicit, systematic phonics instruction

Current Dyslexia Advocacy

Decoding Dyslexia◦ Grassroots parent organization in most all

states, see http://decodingdyslexia-mo.org/

◦ Goals A universal definition of “dyslexia” in the law Mandatory teacher training on dyslexia Mandatory early screening for dyslexia Mandatory dyslexia remediation programs –

for both general and special education populations

Access to appropriate assistive technology

Federal Dyslexia Initiatives

ESEA Reauthorization ◦Teacher training on dyslexia ◦Charter schools for students with dyslexia◦Literacy instruction & grants (in Senate bill)

Requests for “dyslexia” in IEP◦CCD letter and House legislators letter ◦Request ED issue guidance to schools to

use “dyslexia” instead of “LD in basic reading skills” to ensure appropriate services

◦CASE lead coalition letter of concern

State Dyslexia Legislation

Mandated Screening and Intervention ◦Fiscal note concerns last session

Dyslexia Legislative Task Force ◦ Recommend system for identification

and intervention for students w dyslexia◦18 members

DESE dyslexia specialist ◦Professional development statewide

Things to Prepare Yourself Learn about dyslexia research, the NRP

recommendations and Orton-Gillingham methodology

Focus on reading instruction and ask ◦ Does the reading curriculum provide direct,

explicit instruction in basic reading skills consistent with NRP?

◦ Do general education teachers have the expertise to provide quality core and supplemental reading instruction?

◦ Are multi-tiered systems of support available so all students who need more intensive levels of instruction, e.g. Orton-Gillingham based approaches, receive it?

◦ Are special education teachers trained in and able to provide a wide range of techniques and intensive levels of instruction when needed by IDEA eligible students?

Special Education ProceduresEvaluate every 24 months per parent request –

negate IDEA action refused All special education decisions must be proven in

compliance with IDEA ◦ Shifts burden of proof to schools (under Supreme Ct is

party that initiated proceeding

◦ Negate IDEA provision that procedural errors do not constitute denial of FAPE

Prohibits schools from using attorney for due process if involved previously with case, e.g. advising on notice

Requires schools to have policy allowing parents to “record” any conversation or proceeding with 24 hour advance notice

Get Engaged Invite elected officials to school

Show them great things you are doingMTSS, especially reading (dyslexia)

Explain how IDEA evaluations are done

Emphasize how IDEA is regulation heavy

Suggest we do not need state laws added

Stay in touch with them during session Share concerns about specific bills