Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator DIANE B. ALLEN
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Turner
SYNOPSIS
Urges State Board of Education to develop endorsement to instructional certificate for teachers of students with dyslexia.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the State Board of Education to develop an endorsement for teachers of students with dyslexia.
Whereas, Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities, resulting in core difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling, and sometimes spoken language; and
Whereas, An estimated 15-20% of individuals have language-based learning difficulties, and an estimated 70-85% of students who are placed in special education for a learning disability have dyslexia, making it the most prevalent learning disability in children; and
Whereas, Dyslexia affects male and female students alike and occurs in individuals of all backgrounds and intellectual levels; and
Whereas, All children need basic reading and writing abilities to succeed throughout their lives, and children with dyslexia can learn successfully with appropriate teaching methods; and
Whereas, Children with untreated dyslexia can suffer devastating personal consequences, as it can cause significant stress and poor self-image, discourage students from continuing in school, and lead to adults unable to achieve at their fullest potential; and
Whereas, Early identification, support, and sustained targeted services for students with dyslexia are of the utmost importance to increase academic success and self-esteem; and
Whereas, Informed and effective instruction by skilled teachers, especially in the early grades, can prevent or ameliorate the severity of dyslexia and related reading and language problems; and
Whereas, Students with dyslexia require appropriate instruction and educational interventions for their specific disability, which can include multisensory structured language techniques or other similar specialized educational programs; and
Whereas, Effective educators of students with dyslexia need considerable and specialized knowledge and skills and sufficient training and expertise to recognize early signs of risk and provide successful teaching methods; and
Whereas, New Jersey parents of children with dyslexia have advocated for additional training of teachers, principals, and child study team members in order to increase educational services that specifically address dyslexia; and
Whereas, A State endorsement to the instructional certificate for teachers who are trained in educating students with dyslexia will help ensure that children in New Jersey who have language-based learning disabilities are identified early and provided with appropriate instructional strategies and educational tools to help them succeed in school and throughout their lives; and
Whereas, It is in the public interest of this State to provide children struggling with dyslexia with access to teachers who are specifically trained in instructing dyslexic students and who can help them learn and achieve at their fullest potential; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The State Board of Education is urged to develop an endorsement to the instructional certificate for teachers of students with dyslexia, and to establish eligibility and training requirements for the endorsement specific to the needs of students with dyslexia. In developing the endorsement and its eligibility and training requirements, the State Board of Education is encouraged to review and consider the recommendations contained in the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (2010), and requirements developed by other states, such as Texas, for certification of individuals who work with students who have dyslexia.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to each member of the State Board of Education.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the State Board of Education to develop an endorsement to the instructional certificate for teachers of students with dyslexia and to establish eligibility and training requirements for the endorsement. The resolution encourages the board, in developing the endorsement and its eligibility and training requirements, to consider the recommendations contained in the International Dyslexia Association’s 2010 publication Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading, as well as requirements developed by other states, such as Texas, for certification of individuals who work with students who have dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that causes core difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling. Dyslexia affects students of all backgrounds and intellectual levels and is the most common learning disability in children. Students with dyslexia can effectively learn and succeed with appropriate educational interventions and teaching methods for their specific learning disability. Effective educators of students with dyslexia need considerable knowledge, skills, training, and expertise. A State endorsement to the instructional certificate for teachers of students with dyslexia will help ensure that children in New Jersey who struggle with this learning disability will have access to teachers who are specifically trained in appropriate instructional methods to help them learn and achieve at their fullest potential.