2016 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 22 - Public Schools
Article 13 - Courses of Instruction and School Programs
Section 22-13-32 - Intervention for students displaying characteristics of dyslexia.

NM Stat § 22-13-32 (2016) What's This?

22-13-32. Intervention for students displaying characteristics of dyslexia.

A. A student who, despite effective classroom instruction in general education as provided by department standards, demonstrates characteristics of dyslexia and is having difficulty learning to read, write, spell, understand spoken language or express thoughts clearly shall be referred to a student assistance team.

B. In accordance with department response to intervention procedures, guidelines and policies, each school district or charter school shall provide timely, appropriate, systematic, scientific, research-based interventions prescribed by the student assistance team, with progress monitoring to determine the student's response or lack of response, for a student in the secondary tier of response to intervention who meets the criteria in Subsection A of this section prior to referring the student for a special education evaluation.

C. A parent of a student referred to a student assistance team shall be informed of the parent's right to request an initial special education evaluation at any time during the school district's or charter school's implementation of the interventions prescribed by the student assistance team. If the school district or charter school agrees that the student may have a disability, the student assistance team shall refer the child for an evaluation. The student shall be evaluated within sixty days of receiving the parental consent for an initial evaluation. If the school district or charter school refuses the parent's request for an initial evaluation, the school district or charter school shall provide written notice of the refusal to the parent, including notice of the parent's right to challenge the school district's or charter school's decision as provided in state and federal law and rules.

D. The department shall provide lists of recommended teacher professional development materials and opportunities for teachers and administrators regarding research-based reading instruction for students at risk for reading failure and displaying the characteristics of dyslexia.

E. School districts and charter schools shall train school administrators and teachers who teach reading to implement appropriate research-based reading interventions prior to referring the student for a special education evaluation. School districts and charter schools shall train special education teachers to provide appropriate specialized reading instruction for students who are identified with dyslexia as a specific learning disability and who are eligible for special education services.

F. The department shall provide technical assistance for special education diagnosticians and other special education professionals regarding the formal special education evaluation of students suspected of having a specific learning disability, such as dyslexia.

G. The department shall adopt rules, standards and guidelines necessary to implement this section.

History: Laws 2010, ch. 59, 2.

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