• Dyslexia Universal Screener 2020-2021

  • WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SCREEN FOR DYSLEXIA?

    In 2017, the 85th Texas Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 1886, amending Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003, Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia, to require that all kindergarten and first-grade public school students be screened for dyslexia and related disorders.

    Early identification of students with dyslexia along with corresponding early intervention programs for these students will have significant implications for their future academic success.

    • Early identification is critical because the earlier the intervention, the easier it is to remediate.
    • Inexpensive screening measures identify at-risk children in mid-kindergarten with 85 percent accuracy.
    • If intervention is not provided before the age of eight, the probability of reading difficulties continuing into high school is 75 percent (pp. 279–280).

    -Straight Talk about Reading, Hall and Moats (1999)

    WHO WILL PARTICIPATE AND HOW?

    All Kindergarten and First grade students will participate. The testing window for first grade opens November 10th, 2020 and closes December 18th, 2020, and the testing window for kindergarten will open April 1, 2021 and close on April 30, 2021.

    WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED AND WHEN? 

    Date/Window

    Activity

    November 10th - December 18th

    First Grade Screening Implementation Window

    All first-grade students will complete the Renaissance Star Early Literacy Screner and a Spelling Inventory.  Testing must be completed by December 18th, 2020.

    November 16th – November 18th

    First Grade Dyslexia Screening Open Labs are available in OneSource to support implementation.

    Participants will recieve an overview of the dyslexia screening expectations and engage in a open form Q&A to support questions about the implementation of the screener.

    OneSource Course ID# 1443727
    January 2021

    Required Training for Campus IAT/Dyslexia Administrators/Dyslexia Interventionists

    Dyslexia Screening Protocols Training: Participants will engage in a decision-making simulation and implement the Houston ISD protocols for dyslexia screening and placement. OneSource Course ID# 1443754

    Training Flyer
    January 5th - February 12th

    Dyslexia Screening Meetings Completed by February 12, 2021

    Campuses will review Dyslexia Risk Roster and implement the dyslexia screening protocols to review student data and make decisions about the need for student intervention and/or evaluation referral.

    All meetings will be completed by February 12th.
     March 29, 2021 - March 31, 2021

    Kindergarten Dyslexia Screening Open Labs are available in OneSource to support implementation.

    Participants will recieve an overview of the dyslexia screening expectations and engage in a open form Q&A to support questions about the implementation of the screener.

    OneSource Course ID# 1443727
     April 1, 2021 - April 30, 2021

    Kindergarten Screening Implementation Window
    May 3, 2021 - May 14, 2020

    Dyslexia Screening Meetings Completed by May 14th, 2021

    Campuses will review Dyslexia Risk Roster and implement the dyslexia screening protocols to review student data and make decisions about the need for student intervention and/or evaluation referral.

    All meetings will be completed by May 14th.

     

    HOW DO I ACCESS THE ASSESSMENTS?

     

    Star Early Literacy Screener

    Spelling Inventory

    Visit the Renaissance Formative Assessment Webpage for administration on the Star Early Literacy Screener

    Access the Star Early Literacy Screener: www.houstonisd.org/screener

    		 Visit the Spelling Inventory Guiding Documents for support with implementation.

    Record student scores in OnTrack - houstonisd.org/OnTrack

    The Star Early Literacy Screener will be administered according the the student assessment calendar for the Ren 360 Formal Progress Monitoring window.

    • Dyslexia screening will align with the Student Assessment Progress Monitoring window, November 16 - December 18.
    • All first-grade students must be assessed by December 18th.
    • Dyslexia Team Leaders will monitor progress and support participation.
    Please see the Renaissance Formative Assessment website for more information about the administration of the Star Early Literacy Screener.

    A spelling inventory will be administered to all first grade and kindergarten students.

    • Administration and scoring instructions will be provided to the campus Dyslexia Administrator for campus distribution.
    • The spelling inventory will be administered by the classroom teacher in a 1:1 or in a small group setting of 2-3 students.  
    • Scores will be entered in OnTrack by the classroom teacher no later than December 18th for first-grade and April 30th for kindergarten.
    Open Labs to support implementation are available for registration in OneSource, Course ID# 1445054

    Open Labs to support implementation are available for registration in OneSource, Course ID# 1443747

     

    WHO DO I CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT?

    Area

    Contact Information

    For Technical Support with Star Early Literacy

    HISD Service Desk – servicedesk@houstonisd.org

    For Support with Spelling Inplementation

    Contact Your Dyslexia Team Leader - Dyslexia Directory

    For Support with the Referral Process

     

     

    Contact the Dyslexia/504 Compliance Team

    Senior Program Specialist, April.Mooney@houstonisd.org

    Compliance Team Leader, OFRANCO@houstonisd.org

Dyslexia Screening and Referral

  •  

    Resource

    		 Description

    Dyslexia Screening Protocol

    Dyslexia Risk Report

    REFERENCE: This document outlines the steps in the process for the Dyslexia Screening requirements in First Grade and Kindergarten

    Texas Dyslexia Handbook

    REFERENCE: The Texas Dyslexia Handbook, 2018, can be used as a reference guide for state screening requirements and TEC §38.003 - See Chapter 2.

    Dyslexia Screening Flowchart

    		 REFERENCE: The Dyslexia Screening Flowchart can be used as a reference for decision making in the screening meeting.

    Dyslexia Screening & Referral - Training Slide Deck

    		 TRAINING: Review the training slides from the Dyslexia Screening Protocol Training in January

    At-Risk Notification Letter

    At-Risk Notification Letter (Spanish)

    		 BEFORE THE MEETING: For each student identified on the campus At-Rist Report, send this letter with the Ren360 student report

    Parent Input Form

    Parent Input Form (Spanish)

    		 BEFORE THE MEETING: For each student identified on the roster as "At-Rist for Dyslexia", send this Parent Input Form with the Ren360 student report.  (If a parent does not return this form, it is not a reason to delay the screening meeting)
    Teacher Input Form BEFORE THE MEETING: For each student on the Dyslexia Risk Roster, send this form to the classroom teachers and collect prior to the screening meeting

    Data Gathering Checklist

    BEFORE THE MEETING:This Data Gathering Checklist will be included in each dyslexia screening folder.  It is a Google Doc that can be printed or copied to your google drive.

    Dyslexia Screener Reporting Form

    Reporting Form - Hard Copy

    Guiding Questions

    DURING THE MEETING: Complete this electronic form at each meeting.  Ensure accuracy of the Student ID number and the email address of the IAT Rep before submitting each form.  Print and sign each form and keep the signed original in the student folder.

    Use the guiding questions to lead the team discussion.

    IAT Initial Meeting Process

    IAT Request for Referral 

    		 AFTER THE MEETING: Send a notice home to parents letting them know your next steps.  Refer to IAT procedures and documentation to move forward with an intervention plan or referral.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All

  • Who should be invited to attend an IAT meeting?

  • Should students in kindergarten and first grade who receive special education or Section 504 services be screened for dyslexia using the K/1 dyslexia screener under TEC §38.003?

  • Who is required to be screened for dyslexia?