I’ve attached the TEDA Government Awareness report for 7/21. It includes links to information about hb 4545 as well as links to the proposed update of the dyslexia manual.
State Issues
HB 4545 eliminates the retention and retesting requirements for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR® ) grades 5 and 8 mathematics and reading. It also requires accelerated instruction for students in grades 3, 5, and 8 who did not meet state set passing standards on STAAR. (6/30/21)
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/hb4545-testing-calendar-updates-7-1-21.pdf
https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/health-safety-discipline/covid/accelerated-learning-resources
Updated Testing Calendars reflect this change. (6/30/21)
https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/testing/student-assessment-overview/testing-calendars
SBOE through the Committee on Instruction has proposed changes to the Texas Administrative Code and the Dyslexia Manual. (June 24)
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/summary-of-proposed-updates-dyslexia-061721.pdf
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2018-dyslexia-handbook-redline_edits_chapters%20only_061621.pdf
Federal Issues
CEC reports that the House Appropriations Committee has proposed significant increases in funding for special education as well as education overall (July 14).
https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/house-appropriators-put-idea-glidepath-full-funding
US Department of Education announced that additional funds are being released from the American Rescue Plan for special education. (July 1)
https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-more-3-billion-american-rescue-plan-funds-support-children-disabilities
Links
www.txeda.org, www.houmet.org, http://framwork.esc18.net, www.tea.state.tx.us, www.cec.sped.org, www.ed.hov, idea.ed.gov, www.esc4.net