Dyslexia Guidance 

DYSLEXIA GUIDANCE

 The General Assembly passed SEA (Senate Enrolled Act) 217, which addresses Dyslexia in Indiana schools. 

HEA (House Enrolled Act) 1108 defines dyslexia as a specific learning disability that:

  • Is neurological in origin and characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities;
  • Typically results from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.
  • May include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge; and
  • May require the provision of special education services after an eligibility determination is made in accordance with Article 7.

SCREENING

Students who must be screened using a mandatory universal screener approved by the IDOE:

Students in kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2

  • A kindergarten through grade 2 student who transfers to a new school, and has not previously been screened during the school year
  • A student in grade 3 or higher who has difficulty as noted by the classroom teacher in,
  • Phonological and phonemic awareness
    • Sound symbol recognition;
    • Alphabet knowledge;
    • Decoding skills;
    • Rapid naming skills; and
    • Encoding skills
  • A student in kindergarten through grade 2 from another state who enrolls in an Indiana school for the first time unless the student has documentation that he/she has had dyslexia or similar screen during the school year or is exempt from screening
  • A school corporation is not required to administer a universal screening if the parent objects to the screening.

NOTIFICATION AND SERVICES

If the student’s performance on the universal screener indicates he/she is determined to be at risk, or some risk, for dyslexia, the school shall notify the  parent/guardian of the results of the screening and obtain consent for a level 1 or 2 screening to be administered if deemed necessary. 

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