The General Assembly passed SEA 217 which addresses “Dyslexia,” and adds a number of new requirements for both the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and schools. The requirements of this legislation go into effect for schools with the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

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
  • May require the provision of special education services after an eligibility determination is made in accordance with Article 7.

SCREENING

A school corporation’s and charter school’s reading plan shall include indicators to screen for risk factors of dyslexia, using a screening tool approved by IDOE that screens for characteristics of dyslexia. This mandatory universal screener approved by IDOE shall include indicators for dyslexia and must be reported in the kindergarten through grade two reading plan

This screening shall include, as developmentally appropriate, the following:

  • Phonological and phonemic awareness
  • ​Sound symbol recognition
  • Alphabet knowledge
  • Decoding skills
  • Rapid naming skills
  • ​Encoding skills

If a student is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia, after a screening, the school corporation or charter school shall administer a level 1 dyslexia screening to the student.Based on the results of the level 1 screener, a school corporation or charter school may administer a level 2 screener. Both level 1 and 2 screeners must include the components listed above.

These screeners must be completed consistent with the Indiana dyslexia resource guide to be released by IDOE.

Students who must be screened:

  • 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
    • 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 the screening.

If any of the screeners indicate that a student has the characteristics of dyslexia, the school corporation or charter school shall use the response to intervention process to address the needs of the student.

A school corporation or charter school is not required to administer a universal screening if the parent objects to the screening or the student is already receiving intervention services for dyslexia.

A parent/guardian must consent to a level 1 or 2 screening before it is administered.


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. Additional information and resource materials are provided below.

Additional Parent/Guardian Resource Links
dyslexiaida.org
dyslexiahelp.umich.edu​
dyslexia.yale.edu​


​DYSLEXIA DATA FOR PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS

2018-19

Number of students who were administered DIBELS 8: ​0
Number of students determined to be at risk for dyslexia: ​0
Dyslexia interventions used: ​0
Number of students who received dyslexia interventions: ​0

2019-20

Number of students who were administered DIBELS 8: 2,862
Number of students determined to be at risk for dyslexia: 106
Dyslexia interventions used: Orton Gillingham, Road to the Code, mCLASS, PALS
Number of students who received dyslexia interventions:0

2020-21

Number of students who were administered DIBELS 8: 2,990
Number of students determined to be at-risk for Dyslexia: 559
Dyslexia Interventions used: Orton Gillingham, Road to the Code, mCLASS, PALS
Number of students who received Dyslexia Interventions: 179
Number of students identified with Dyslexia: 0

*Note: We were not able to complete screening and intervention with all students due to school closure.

2021-22

Number of students who were administered DIBELS 8: 3,886
Number of students determined to be at-risk for Dyslexia: 554
Dyslexia Interventions used: Orton Gillingham, Road to the Code, mCLASS, PALS
Number of students who received dyslexia interventions: 268
Number of students identified with Dyslexia: 0

DYSLEXIA GUIDANCE AND DATA