- Houston Independent School District
- Dyslexia
- Dyslexia Screening
Interventions Office
- Home
- 2020-2021 High Priority Areas
- Behavior Supports and Interventions
- Campus IAT Liaison Intervention Report Submission
- Designated Supports
- Dyslexia
- Intervention Information for Parents
- Interventions @ H.O.M.E.
- Interventions Assistance Team (IAT)
- Interventions Office Staff
- Middle School Initiative 2020-2021
- Renaissance Universal Screener
- Response to Intervention (RtI)
- Section 504
- Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment
- Dyslexia Resources
-
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
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.
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 REFERENCE: This document outlines the steps in the process for the Dyslexia Screening requirements in First Grade and Kindergarten
REFERENCE: The Texas Dyslexia Handbook, 2018, can be used as a reference guide for state screening requirements and TEC §38.003 - See Chapter 2.
REFERENCE: The Dyslexia Screening Flowchart can be used as a reference for decision making in the screening meeting. TRAINING: Review the training slides from the Dyslexia Screening Protocol Training in January BEFORE THE MEETING: For each student identified on the campus At-Rist Report, send this letter with the Ren360 student report 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 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.
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.
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
-
Who should be invited to attend an IAT meeting?
The IAT usually consists of the following personnel:
• IAT chairperson
• Campus administrator or designee; (may also be the chairperson)
• RtI campus coordinator (may also be the IAT chairperson)
• Evaluation Specialist, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, if behavioral issues are a concern; Speech Therapist if language, articulation, fluency or voice issues are a concern
• Referral source
• Classroom teacher; and
• Parent, nurse, counselor, social worker, and/or campus instructional coordinator
-
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?
Students receiving special education or Section 504 services should be screened using the K/1 dyslexia screener unless:
• The ARD or Section 504 committee determines the screener is not appropriate (e.g. students with significant cognitive disabilities); or
• the student is already identified with dyslexia.
SOURCE: Frequently Asked Questions: Dyslexia and Related Disorders - January 2021
-
Who is required to be screened for dyslexia?
TEC §38.003 requires all kindergarten and grade 1 students to be screened for dyslexia. Districts and charter schools must implement a screening program that includes each of the following:
• Screening of each student in kindergarten at the end of the school year. HISD Screening windoe=w for kindergarten is April 1-30, 2021
• Screening of each student in the first grade no later than January 31st. HISD screening window for fisrt grade is Nov 10 - Dec 18, 2020.
SOURCE: Frequently Asked Questions: Dyslexia and Related Disorders - January 2021