Assemblymember Frazier’s Dyslexia Bill Passes Committee in 7-0 Vote

Sacramento, CA –Assembly Bill 1369 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Oakley) was approved on a 7-0 vote in the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1369 will help ensure that California public schools are able to properly identify students who may have dyslexia.

“Early identification of dyslexia is extremely important,” said Assemblymember Frazier. “I want to highlight this issue and start a meaningful conversation between parents, teachers and experts so that we can work together towards a solution that will give these students the tools they need for success.”

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability wherein individuals experience difficulties with language skills such as spelling, writing and pronouncing words. Approximately one in five students in the education system have dyslexia, and as a result, experience difficulty in functioning academically.

“The approval of AB 1369 is the first step in ensuring that our kids receive the proper remediation for dyslexia in the public education system,” said Tobie Meyer, Legislative Member of Decoding Dyslexia. “When 20 percent of students have dyslexia and are not receiving proper intervention strategies, they fall behind in school. An evidence-based, multisensory, and structured approach to remediating students with dyslexia is what our kids need.”

Although dyslexia is one of the conditions listed in the federal and state definition of a specific learning disability, the definition does not address the phonological processing deficit – a hallmark trait of dyslexia. When school districts review assessment data for a student, school personnel look for visual and auditory processing deficits, but often ignore evidence of a phonological deficit. AB 1369 will ensure that a phonological processing deficit is included in that definition, while also addressing the need to remediate students that currently struggle with dyslexia.

The bill passed with bipartisan support and now proceeds to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. To track the status of AB 1369, or for more information, click here.

To contact Assemblymember Jim Frazier please visit his website at http://www.asmdc.org/members/a11/ or call his District Offices at 707-399-3011 or 925-778-5790.