Dyslexic students could see changes in state testing requirements

Sen. Thomas Pressly authored multiple bills looking to tackle dyslexia diagnoses in students. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Two proposals aimed at better identifying dyslexia in Louisiana students and relieving them of standardized testing requirements advanced Tuesday from a legislative committee. 

The bills aim to improve state efforts at diagnosing students with dyslexia early, which started last year with screenings. 

Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, authored both bills.

Former state Rep. Joe Marino, I-Gretna, presented the bills Tuesday to the House Committee on Education in place of Pressly alongside Dr. Laura Cassidy, co-founder of Louisiana Key Academy. The charter school for students with dyslexia has campuses in Baton Rouge, Covington, Ruston and Shreveport. 

Senate Bill 336 would require the state to for additional testing after an initial dyslexia screening that’s already required. Multiple tests, performance reviews and interviews with the student’s parents would be covered under the legislation. 

Vendors to perform the additional testing must have approval from the Louisiana Department of Education. Parents would also have the option to choose a different approved vendor than the one assigned to their child’s school and be reimbursed by the state. 

Senate Bill 72 would exempt students with dyslexia from the literacy screening given to students twice a year in kindergarten through third grade. Instead, these students would take a different test to determine their speech skills and oral reading fluency. 

This bill will only go into effect if Louisiana receives federal approval to exclude students with dyslexia from its state literacy screenings. 

Money for additional dyslexia testing will come out of a fund established in Senate Bill 440, also authored by Pressly. Marino said that he was told $2 million would be put into the fund for the first year, then adjusted based on need. The proposal awaits a hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations.

Marino said only 1.5% of students in Louisiana schools have been diagnosed with dyslexia, but national data estimates one in every five students has the learning disorder. 

While in the Legislature, Marino authored a bill requiring LDOE to choose a screener to determine if students were at risk for dyslexia. It also required future teachers to take a class on instructing dyslexic students. It became law last year.

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