What is Dyslexia? 

The Alabama State Board of Education Dyslexia Resolution was approved April 8, 2015. The Dyslexia Resolution defined dyslexia, recognized the educational implications, called for the creation of a Dyslexia Advisory Council, and called for revision of the Alabama Administrative Code to address dyslexia and subsequent services needed to ensure the success of students with dyslexia. In addition, the Literacy Act passed in 2019 further outlines strategies, incentives, and interventions specific to the science of reading for grades K-3. 

Dyslexia Specific Support in the Pell City School System

In accordance with the Alabama Literacy Act, students in grades K-3 will be given a universal screener that has been recommended by the Alabama Literacy Task Force. The results of universal screenings will be used to determine a student's need for a Student Reading Intervention Plan (SRIP). After careful progress monitoring and tiered intervention, a student may require additional assessment and screening for characteristics of dyslexia. Students in grades 5-12th will also be given a universal screener to determine specific instructional needs and the possible need for additional dyslexia screening. Accommodations and interventions will be monitored and communicated to parents through the school's Problem Solving Team (PST). 

How do you know if a student is exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia? 

If a student scores below benchmark on their school’s reading screening and they are not responding to intervention in the classroom in Tier I and Tier II intervention, students will be placed in a Tier III intervention from the approved intervention list. If they are still not making adequate progress in a dyslexia specific intervention, a dyslexia specific screening assessment will be administered. Parents may also request a dyslexia specific screening if they have concerns. The screening administered by school officials is NOT a diagnosis, the screening for dyslexia using instruments included in the Alabama Dyslexia Resource Guide that can reveal dyslexic tendencies in students. 

What if a student has a diagnosis of dyslexia or fails the dyslexia screening? 

If a student is identified as exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia on the dyslexia-specific screening assessment or has a diagnosis of dyslexia, he or she will receive dyslexia specific accommodations and/or interventions in order to provide equal access to curriculum. These accommodations/interventions will be developed, monitored and communicated to parents by the school’s Problem Solving Team (PST) as part of the RtI Process discussed in section 3, page 15 of the Alabama Dyslexia Resource Guide. 

What classroom strategies or accommodations can be implemented to support students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia?  

The Alabama Dyslexia Resource Guide includes an entire section about classroom accommodations and strategies. A small sampling is listed below. These accommodations are critical to student success.

   Assistive technology

   Clarify or simplify directions

   Highlight essential information

   Develop reading guides

   Provide a copy of lecture notes

   Use step by step instructions

   Use of graphic organizers

   Use cues to denote important items

   Display work samples

   Peer learning

   Flexible work times

   Provide additional practice

   Adjust or substitute assignments 

Click HERE to look at additional accommodations recommended by the International Dyslexia Association, IDA.