PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION

Provides for instruction in dyslexia awareness and methods of teaching

students with dyslexia for candidates for teaching certificates and current

teachers and paraprofessionals.

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

2

2 supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey

3 Statutes.

4

7

8 1. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, a regionally9

accredited institution of higher education offering coursework for a

10 New Jersey instructional certificate shall incorporate the

11 recommendations developed by the Commissioner of Education

12 pursuant to section 2 of this act on instruction in dyslexia awareness

13 and methods of teaching students with dyslexia into existing course

14 curriculum.

15

16 2. a. The Commissioner of Education shall develop

17 recommendations for dyslexia awareness instruction and methods of

18 teaching students with dyslexia for teacher preparation programs in

19 accordance with section 1 of this act and shall submit the

20 recommendations to the State Board of Education. In developing

21 the recommendations, the commissioner shall consult with the

22 Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, representatives from

23 entities that promote dyslexia awareness and provide programs and

24 services to people with dyslexia including, but not limited to, the

25 New Jersey chapter of the International Dyslexia Association, and

26 representatives of the education community including, but not

27 limited to, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey

28 School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and

29 Supervisors Association, and the New Jersey Professional Teaching

30 Standards Board.

31 b. The Commissioner of Education shall develop

32 recommendations to incorporate dyslexia awareness and methods of

33 teaching students with dyslexia for teacher and paraprofessional in34

service and other training programs, where appropriate, and shall

35 submit the recommendations to the State Board of Education. In

36 developing the recommendations, the commissioner shall consult

37 with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services,

38 representatives from entities that promote dyslexia awareness

39 including, but not limited to, the New Jersey chapter of the

40 International Dyslexia Association, and representatives of the

41 education community including, but not limited to, the New Jersey

42 Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association,

43 the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and the

44 New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards Board.

45 c. The recommendations developed by the commissioner

46 pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section shall address the

47 following:

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(1) characteristics of 1 students with dyslexia;

2 (2) curriculum planning, curricular and instructional

3 modifications, adaptations, and specialized strategies and

4 techniques;

5 (3) assistive technology; and

6 (4) inclusive educational practices, including collaborative

7 partnerships.

8

9 3. The State Board of Education, based upon the

10 recommendations developed by the Commissioner of Education

11 pursuant to section 2 of this act, shall promulgate regulations

12 pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410

13 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to implement the provisions of this

14 act.

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16 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

17

18

19 STATEMENT

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21 This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to:

22 (1) develop recommendations for dyslexia awareness instruction

23 and methods of teaching students with dyslexia for teacher

24 preparation programs; and

25 (2) develop recommendations to incorporate dyslexia awareness

26 instruction and methods of teaching students with dyslexia for

27 teacher and paraprofessional in-service and other training programs.

28 The recommendations must be submitted to the State Board of

29 Education. In developing the recommendations, the commissioner

30 must consult with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services,

31 representatives from organizations that promote dyslexia awareness

32 and provide programs and services to people with dyslexia, and

33 representatives of the education community.

34 Under the bill, the commissioner’s recommendations must

35 address: characteristics of students with dyslexia; curriculum

36 planning, curricular and instructional modifications, adaptations,

37 and specialized strategies and techniques; assistive technology; and

38 inclusive educational practices.

39 The bill also provides that, beginning with the 2008-2009 school

40 year, a regionally-accredited institution of higher education offering

41 coursework for a New Jersey instructional certificate must

42 incorporate the recommendations developed by the Commissioner

43 of Education pursuant to the bill’s provisions.