FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this bill is to establish two pilot programs, each in three school districts within the state, 1) a program to screen and provide interventions to children at risk for dyslexia for the purpose of demonstrating effectiveness of early intervention using a multisensory teaching approach and 2) and a pilot program with a higher education institution and three districts to educate teachers on recognizing and adapting to children with dyslexia in order to improve the education of children with dyslexia, also using a multisensory approach. The bill in 18-2-36a establishes a definition of dyslexia, which is a specific learning disorder characterized by difficulties in accurate or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding involving a deficit in the phonological component of language, which is neurological in origin and inconsistent with intelligence, motivation or sensory capabilities. The first three-year pilot would require the participating three districts to provide early phonemic awareness screening for students at risk ages 6 and under and to identify children who will receive a reading program staffed by teachers trained in multisensory structured language programs. The effects of the reading program on the children's risk factors will be evaluated. The State Superintendent shall apply for private and other nonstate funds and shall use available state funds appropriated to the Department of Education for the pilot project, develop guidelines and consult with an organization(s) that specializes in multisensory structured language programs for the treatment of dyslexia in establishing and operating the project. Reports to the State Superintendent and the Legislative Oversight Committee on Education Accountability on the effect of the projects on diagnosing and treating children with risk factors for dyslexia are required.
The second pilot project requires a dyslexia teacher training pilot program to educate teachers on recognizing and adapting to children with risk factors for dyslexia. Three school districts and one or more institutions of higher education will provide K-4 teachers and teacher candidates in the selected districts/IHEs programs or institutes on the indicators of dyslexia and the types of instruction that children with risk factors for dyslexia need to learn, read, write and spell, including multisensory structured language programs. Reporting and program evaluation is required. The goal of this pilot project is to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of training teachers to provide early reading assistance programs for children with risk factors for dyslexia and to evaluate whether the early assistance programs can reduce future special education costs. Multiple years to determine effects of the program would be needed.
These pilot projects represent two research projects in three districts and one or more institutions of higher education, requiring extensive commitment of resources but providing no additional source of funding. These projects would be funded through the existing WVDE state funds and any additional outside grants the WVDE could obtain. Project activities in some ways duplicates current screening and intervention programs already in place for students K-4, now implemented under Support for Personalized Learning.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2013
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2014
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
414,000 |
311,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
22,000 |
22,000 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
392,000 |
289,000 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The above cost estimate is based on the following: Pilot 1 - 3 districts, 3 schools per district, .5 FTE teacher per school (9 x $25,000).
Training for 4 days x $150 stipend x 9 teachers; Multisensory program trainer: 4 days x 2000 per day, SEA staff .15 FTE - $12,000; Training and student materials - $2000 per school.
This amount does not include the cost of screening for all children age 6 and under in the school.
Pilot 2 - 3 districts, 3 schools per district, 10 teachers per school = 90 + 10 IHE students = 100 x ( $150 stipend + $420 meals/lodging) x 4 days training; Multisenory program trainer: 4 days x 2000 per day; IHE staff - .15 FTE x 2 = $12000; evaluators $10,000. Materials $2,000 per school.
This amount does not include additional costs that may be charged by the IHE for participation.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
Email Address: bfreed@access.k12.wv.us