III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 441 

Designating October 2023 as ‘‘National Learning Disabilities Awareness 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 30, 2023 

Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. BUDD) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 2023 as ‘‘National Learning Disabilities 

Awareness Month’’. 

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, 


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•SRES 441 IS 

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 


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•SRES 441 IS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2023 as ‘‘National 

3 Learning Disabilities Awareness Month’’; and 

4 (2) calls on State and local education agencies 

5 to continue to meet the needs of students with spe6 cific learning disabilities through a free and appro7 priate public education. 

Æ 


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