[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 178 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 441--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 2023 AS ``NATIONAL LEARNING 
                     DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Budd) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 441

       Whereas, in section 602 of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401), a specific 
     learning disability--
       (1) is defined as 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) includes conditions such as perceptual disabilities, 
     brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and 
     developmental aphasia; and
       (3) does not include 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 by parts A 
     through D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), impacting 34 percent of all 
     students who received special education services;
       Whereas, for academic year 2022, the National Assessment of 
     Educational Progress reports that--
       (1) more than 95 percent of 4th and 8th grade students with 
     a specific learning disability were not proficient in 
     reading; and
       (2) more than 93 percent of 4th and 8th grade students with 
     a specific learning disability were not proficient in math;
       Whereas the math and reading scores reported by the 
     National Assessment of Educational Progress for academic year 
     2022 indicate that Black and Hispanic students with a 
     specific learning disability experience greater opportunity 
     gaps than White and Asian students;
       Whereas research shows that students with specific learning 
     disabilities can achieve success 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 or at 
     risk for specific learning disabilities: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 2023 as ``National Learning 
     Disabilities Awareness Month''; and
       (2) calls on State and local education agencies to continue 
     to meet the needs of students with specific learning 
     disabilities through a free and appropriate public education.

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