LEAs are required, per Texas Education Code (TEC), §38.003, to conduct universal dyslexia screening of students in kindergarten and first grade. Kindergarten students must be screened for dyslexia at the end of the school year, and first grade students must be screened no later than January 31st. The Dyslexia Handbook describes the screening criteria for this requirement. The updates to the Dyslexia Handbook include a reduction in the number of skills that must be included on the instrument used by LEAs to screen for dyslexia. The updated criteria for English and Spanish screening instruments are as follows: 

Dickinson ISD uses the mCLASS Texas instrument, which is a TEA approved instrument.

Dyslexia Referral

The following are the primary reading/spelling characteristics of dyslexia:

• Difficulty reading words in isolation 
• Difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words
• Difficulty with oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored without prosody)
• Difficulty spelling

It is important to note that individuals demonstrate differences in degree of impairment and may not 

exhibit all the characteristics listed above.

The reading/spelling characteristics are most often associated with the following:

• Segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness) 
• Learning the names of letters and their associated sounds
• Holding information about sounds and words in memory (phonological memory)
• Rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters of the alphabet (rapid naming)

Consequences of dyslexia may include the following:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension 
• Variable difficulty with aspects of written language
• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences

If your child is exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia, then please click here to complete this form:   Parent Dyslexia Referral Form

General Characteristics to watch for: 

• Difficulty reading single words in isolation
• Difficulty accurately decoding nonsense or unfamiliar words
• Slow, inaccurate, or labored oral reading (lack of reading fluency)
• Difficulty spelling
• Difficulty segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness)
• Difficulty learning names of letters and their associated sounds
• Difficulty holding information about sounds and words in memory (phonological memory)
• Difficulty rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters (rapid naming)

Consequences of dyslexia may include the following:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension and/or written language
• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences

Dickinson ISD has invested significant resources of time, energy and money into bringing the best training to our Dyslexia Interventionists.  We advocate following the Texas Dyslexia Handbook by providing the 8 critical evidence-based components and 6 methods of delivery of instruction (aka 8 X 6).

We advocate the use of the following methodologies:

- Neuhaus Education Center

- Reading by Design (ESC Region 4)

- Esperenza 

AKA 8x6

DISD Dyslexia Department 

Adopted 2019

Vision:

All children deserve the opportunity to read and write with success.

Mission:

Our mission is to uncover and illuminate the strengths of students with dyslexia.  Dyslexia Specialists will provide an Orton-Gillingham research-based approach to support academic growth in literacy.

Our Beliefs about:

Students... We believe that through the use of Orton Gillingham instruction, we provide multi-sensory instruction, intervention, support, and advocate on students’ behalf; therefore, providing the keys to unlock the potential of every student.

Parents...We believe in a support system for parents by providing quality training on characteristics of dyslexia, identification, effective teaching strategies, information on accommodations and modifications, and resources to facilitate their child’s academic growth.

Staff...We believe in educating teachers by disseminating information and offering practical advice on the characteristics of dyslexic students, identification of dyslexic students, effective, multisensory strategies for teaching students with dyslexia, and the accommodations needed for success in the classroom.

Dyslexia Specialists...We believe in fostering a sense of community among the department through ongoing communication and professional development.

Community...We believe that educating the citizens of Dickinson about dyslexia will promote an informed and supportive community.