Expressing support for the designation of October 2024 as "National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month".

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1548 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1548

 Expressing support for the designation of October 2024 as ``National 
                Learning Disabilities Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 22, 2024

 Ms. Brownley (for herself, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Molinaro, Mrs. Cherfilus-
   McCormick, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. 
Swalwell, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Williams 
    of New York, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Wasserman 
    Schultz, Mr. Kean of New Jersey, Mr. Panetta, and Mr. Bucshon) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                     on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of October 2024 as ``National 
                Learning Disabilities Awareness Month''.

Whereas section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1401) defines a specific learning disability as--

    (1) a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes 
involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which 
may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, 
write, spell, or do mathematical calculations;

    (2) including such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, 
minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia; and

    (3) not including a learning problem that is primarily the result of 
visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of intellectual disabilities, of 
emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic 
disadvantage;

Whereas a specific learning disability is the most prevalent disability of 
        students who are served under the Individuals with Disabilities 
        Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), affecting 34 percent of all 
        students who received special education services;
Whereas the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicates that more than 
        95 percent of students in grade 4 and students in grade 8 with a 
        specific learning disability were not proficient in reading in academic 
        year 2022;
Whereas the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicates that more than 
        93 percent of students in grade 4 and students in grade 8 with a 
        specific learning disability were not proficient in math in academic 
        year 2022;
Whereas National Assessment of Educational Progress math and reading scores 
        indicate that Black and Hispanic students with a specific learning 
        disability experience even greater opportunity gaps than their White and 
        Asian peers;
Whereas research shows that students with specific learning disabilities can 
        achieve commensurate with their peers, if given appropriate instruction 
        and support;
Whereas developmentally appropriate universal screening should begin as early as 
        possible to assess which students demonstrate the most pervasive risk 
        factors for specific learning disabilities; and
Whereas research rooted in the science of reading establishes an evidence base 
        of effective instructional methods for developing reading skills for 
        students with and at risk for specific learning disabilities: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Learning 
        Disabilities Awareness Month''; and
            (2) calls on State educational agencies and local 
        educational agencies to continue to meet the needs of students 
        with specific learning disabilities through a free appropriate 
        public education.
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