FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CA State PTA Adopts Statewide Dyslexia Resolution
San Diego, CA, [May 7, 2016] – The California State PTA voted UNANIMOUSLY in favor of adopting a statewide resolution entitled “Dyslexia: Addressing the Educational Implications in Public Schools” submitted by San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs with help from Decoding Dyslexia CA (DDCA).
The resolution recognizes that dyslexia has significant educational implications that need to be better addressed by public schools including the necessity of:
- Teacher training in dyslexia and its warning signs and training in appropriate evidence-based Structured Literacy Instruction (in accordance with the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge & Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading);
- Early screening for symptoms of dyslexia in kindergarten through the third grade, with parental notification; and
- To promote knowledge of appropriate accommodations for dyslexic students.
The California State PTA dyslexia resolution will be submitted for consideration to the National PTA for presentation at its National convention in June 2017.
“Dyslexia has been long overlooked in our public schools and this resolution provides clear direction for action. Every California child with dyslexia deserves the right to read, spell, and work to his or her full potential,” states Marilyn Lucey, President of San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs. “The passing of this resolution is a door of opportunity opening for more children in California, not just children with dyslexia, but children with other outlying learning needs.”
“The California State PTA’s resolution on dyslexia serves as a model for other states. We are grateful not only for CA PTA’s support on this important issue but also for the hard work and dedication of San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs in drafting this resolution and in advocating for dyslexia,” states Tobie Meyer, DDCA State Director. “It has been a pleasure collaborating together on this important initiative.”
A copy of the adopted resolution can be accessed at:
http://downloads.capta.org/con/Business_ResolutionA.pdf.
Dyslexia is the single largest learning disability. It is estimated that up to 20% of the overall population displays some signs or symptoms of dyslexia, a language-based learning disability. In California alone, this means over 1 million of our public school students are at risk of being dyslexic. Without proper identification and appropriate reading remediation, most dyslexic children will never read at grade level. According to the 2015 Nation’s Report Card, 72% of all 4th grade students in California read below grade level.
ABOUT PTA: PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association in the United States. One of the purposes of the PTA is to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth. PTA’s advocacy efforts must have authorities which come from its membership Resolutions give the PTA authority to take a position on issues as wide ranging as school-finance topics, health and safety issues, community concerns and more. Resolutions start as issues and ideas of concern to members in units, councils, districts or the California State PTA Board of Managers. These issues are carefully researched, and resolutions are created for consideration and adoption by convention delegates at the California State PTAs annual meeting. Once adopted, resolutions serve as a basis for action in unit, council, district PTA and California State PTA, including taking support positions on future legislation. For more information contact: Rachel Hurd, rmshurd@sbcglobal.net, visit our website at https://srvcpta-ca.schoolloop.com/, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/srvcpta/.
ABOUT DDCA: Decoding Dyslexia CA is a grassroots movement driven by California families, educators and dyslexia experts concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities within our public schools. We aim to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children, and inform policymakers on best practices to identify, remediate, and support students with dyslexia in CA public schools. For more information contact: Tobie Meyer, DDCA State Director at tobie_ddca@yahoo.com , visit our website at www.decodingdyslexiaca.org, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DecodingDyslexiaCA/
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