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Hello,
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month!
Welcome to a new month! It is hard to believe we have started October and school is well underway! It was wonderful to see many of you at last month's MTSS Symposium, or perhaps I saw you at the IDA MO/KS conference... or perhaps at one of our collaborative PD sessions we are holding at one of our service center partners across the state! OR, perhaps you are in your system doing LETRS with your local LETRS facilitator- one thing is for certain, you are BUSY and working hard for your students and families, and I am very grateful for your dedication to doing this difficult, yet rewarding, work.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and you will find additional information in this issue to specifically provide information about dyslexia and support your system in helping our students who have characteristics of dyslexia. You will find additional professional learning opportunities - some for next week, and one for next year, and I'll try to highlight some new resources provided by KSDE and opportunities offered by others to help you do that great work you do with students!
Please share this newsletter widely and let me know if you have questions or need additional support. If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter each month, please let them know they can do that by emailing a request to ELitDyslexia@ksde.gov.
Yours in education
Laurie
Dr. Laurie Curtis
KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia Program Manager
Important Updates from KSDE
UPDATE on changes to LETRS assessments:
Please see below information that was sent to me by Lexia on September 30, 2025.
We’re pleased to share that, based on your feedback regarding participants’ inability to review assessment questions, Lexia will be implementing an important update. Beginning with the October 3, 2025 release, participants will have the ability, while taking the assessments, to review their previous questions for all:
Checks for Understanding (CFUs)
Unit Assessments
Posttests
Our KSDE team will continue to advocate for Kansas educators regarding the assessment concerns that have been shared and sent to Lexia. As more information is provided, I'll make sure you remain informed through our listserv, and/ or KSDE Weekly. If you do not receive KSDE Weekly, you can see the information below to make sure you are able to receive it!
If you want to remain connected to all the information coming out/ available from KSDE, you are welcome and invited to sign up for KSDE Weekly. This electronic publication comes out on Thursday afternoon each week to provide school leaders/ educators insight into lots of information that is relevant to Kansas education and those teaching in Kansas!
You can sign up at the link below:
I am hoping you use the Kansas Dyslexia Handbook as a resource for your classroom and school. It is also mentioned in the requirements for the Every Child Can Read Act. Last Friday, at the KS/MO IDA conference, I was in a session and the presenters were from the University of Central Arkansas. As they moved through their presentation our KSDE Screening flowcharts appeared that are found in our handbook and they praised this resource...not knowing I was in the audience! So proud of all the work we are doing in Kansas to know how to provide the best support for our students. Take a look at that handbook...those flowcharts...and share with others- as it IS Dyslexia Awareness Month!
Professional Learning Opportunities
Starting October 7th!
What does it look like to use what you learned in LETRS training to implement your own curriculum?
KSDE, in partnership with TNTP, invites you to join the Supporting Quality Literacy Instruction Through Materials professional learning series, where we will focus on key practices from the science of reading and apply them within district-selected materials to strengthen literacy instruction. Sessions are designed for instructional leaders (including coaches, curriculum leaders, and lead teachers) who support teachers with effectively using instructional materials and bridging the gap between structured literacy knowledge and classroom practice. Sessions will take place via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:15 pm. For the first five sessions- See additional details and registration links here. Registration for Session 1 will close on Friday, October 3rd. We look forward to learning with you!
STRUCTURED LITERACY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Each session of this FREE PD includes a day of professional learning for educators and provides a free half-unit of graduate credit (and lunch). Professional learning will occur in multiple locations between October and the end of January. There needs to be a minimum of ten participants for the sessions to be held- so bring your friends and colleagues for a great day of professional learning. Below you will see the offerings specific to structured literacy- but many of the ELA sessions are also based on the principles and elements of structured literacy. For ALL offerings, including the ELA options. see THIS LINK.
ONE LAST SESSION for: Cracking the Code: Practical Strategies for Teaching Word Recognition
Join us for an engaging professional development session designed for educators seeking to enhance their instructional practices in word recognition. This session will equip participants with evidence-based strategies for assessing and teaching essential components of reading, including phonological awareness, decoding, and sight words. Educators will learn and practice effective assessment techniques to identify students' needs, along with proven instructional methods to foster skill development in these critical areas. Participants will leave with a toolkit of resources, activities, and practical applications to improve literacy outcomes in their classrooms.
Dates, Location and Registration:
October 28, 2025 Greenbush (Lawrence Register HERE
Empowering Educators: Effective Strategies for Differentiated Phonics Instruction
In this interactive professional learning session, educators will explore proven strategies to differentiate phonics instruction effectively, meeting students at their individual levels and fostering a supportive learning environment. Through examples, hands-on activities, and collaborative discussions, attendees will leave with a toolkit of adaptable strategies, designed to support diverse learning needs. Join us to transform your approach to phonics and make small group instruction more impactful and manageable.
Dates, Location and Registration:
November 6, 2025 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
December 17, 2025 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
Fluency Matters: Enhancing Educator Expertise in Instruction and Assessment
Join us for an engaging workshop focused on enhancing your expertise in fluency instruction and assessment! Participants will explore evidence-based practices for assessing fluency, share successful teaching methods, and collaborate with peers to develop actionable plans for the classroom. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to the field, this workshop will deepen your understanding and empower you to support your students’ fluency development. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your instructional skills and make a lasting impact on your students’ literacy journeys!
Dates, Location and Registration:
November 3, 2025 ESSDACK (Hutchinson) Register HERE
December 9, 2025 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
December 10, 2025 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 6, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
Word Power: Proven Routines to Strengthen Vocabulary Schoolwide
Unlock the secrets to building a robust vocabulary across your entire school! In this hands-on session, educators will explore evidence-based routines designed to expand students’ word knowledge for students in grades K-5. From daily practices to schoolwide strategies, you'll walk away with practical tools to integrate vocabulary-building activities into your classroom culture—empowering students with the words they need to succeed!
Dates, Location and Registration:
November 14, 2025 Southwest Plains (Sublette) Register HERE
November 18, 2025 Orion (Clearwater) Register HERE
November 18, 2025 ESSDACK (Hutchinson) Register HERE
January 9, 2025 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 13, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
January 27, 2026 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
Understanding and Addressing Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): Prevalence and Effective Instructional Strategies for Educators
This session will provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), which affects language acquisition in approximately 7% of children in grades PreK-12. Participants will learn about the prevalence and impact of DLD on academic and social development, along with the importance of early identification. The session will explore practical, research-based instructional strategies designed to support students with DLD in the classroom, promote language development and reading comprehension, and foster language-enriched learning environments.
Dates, Location and Registration:
November 21, 2025 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
December 9, 2025 Orion (Clearwater) Register HERE
December 12, 2025 Southwest Plains (Sublette) Register HERE
January 16, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
January 20, 2026 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 20, 2026 ESSDACK (Hutchinson) Register HERE
EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT...Come join us!
With the launch of Tim Shanahan's new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, our KSDE Structured Literacy and ELA teams will be collaborating to offer a text-based learning opportunity starting in January of 2026 to discuss and navigate the chapters together.
What: Virtual (Zoom) Text-Based PD, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives- educators will provide their own books
When? January 26-March 9, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM, have book in advance to prepare for January 26!
Why? To help students learn how to navigate and tackle complex text anda you can earn PDC points for time you are able to actively participate with us!
How? Click on the REGISTRATION LINK. Registration will be open until January 9th.
Dyslexia Office Hours for School Psychologists (Virtual Forum)
Greenbush offers a monthly, one-hour virtual forum specifically for school psychologists, practicum students, and interns who are working through comprehensive evaluations for suspected dyslexia. Each session uses Kansas’ eligibility indicators and current best practices, and invites participants to bring real cases and questions for collaborative, confidential discussion with peers and facilitators
As part of these office hours, conversations around a case study are facilitated using a framework that is based on Kansas' current definition of dyslexia. This framework breaks the definition into the essential pieces evaluators should consider when answering the referral question of dyslexia. Segmenting the definition in this way makes the process less overwhelming and provides a clear visual of which components of the evaluation are present and which still need to be collected, helping teams determine eligibility for Prong 1 with greater confidence. This office hour also provides a great opportunity for general questions and discussions regarding the identification of dyslexia within the school setting.
The next office hour is October 21, 2025, from 11:00 to 12:00. Register here.
Future dates and registration links include:
For questions, please contact Mandy Cundy at mandy.cundy@usd262.net
Information for Promising Practice
For more information on other reading skills and strategies see:
Visit the great resources at Reading Universe to see sample lessons and learn more about foundational skill instruction. This link above happens to be about the teaching of short vowel sounds. Information about the importance of explicit instruction is provided, video links to help teachers see what this instruction looks like in practice and additional resources...including information about vowel valley are included. You can even download a PDF for Vowel Valley! Explore the Reading Universe Taxonomy to support your own knowledge building!
What is the difference between a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia and a school identification of dyslexia?
While I have provided the link below in the past, I have had several educators ask about it recently, so here it is again! This is a good tool for sharing with others the difference between a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia and a school identification of dyslexia.
No student needs a clinical diagnosis to be provided extra support for reading in our schools. A clinical diagnosis can be considered by a special education team, but a clinical diagnosis does not determine an IEP is necessary to best meet a child's needs. With dyslexia being on a continuum, students may be best served in their Tier 1 classroom, they may need additional Tier 2 support, they may require accommodations through a 504 plan, or they may best be served on an IEP. The importance of assessment, analysis of data and a strong team of educators, advocates and frequent family communication will assure the best for students. The Difference Between a School Identification and a Clinical Diagnosis, Peg Rosen/ Reviewed by Bob Cunningham.
Dr. Timothy Odegard shares in this Literacy Talks podcast, not just his own personal struggle from a very early age, but the impact it has on social-emotional wellness. This episode is called "What Schools Must Understand about Dyslexia- with Tim Odegard."
DLD in Schools: An Insider's Perspective
As our team continues to provide information on Developmental Language Disorder, please explore this resource. Is includes a document, and audio recording provided by speech language pathologist, Dr. Rachel Powell, PhD, CCC-SLP to provide clear, helpful information for what DLD looks like and how classroom educators can provide the best help for students! She also includes additional references for the information. You may want to consider using the references for continued PLC discussions in your school- or for your own personal professional learning!
Provided by SLP and Data Coach, Dr. Rachel Powell
English Learner Support
IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR REVIEW!
Please see this resource provided by KSDE's ESOL Title III Coordinator, Emily Scott! it is the 2025-2026 English Learner Framework and is available on the ESOL page of the KSDE Website. This document is a critical resource for schools and we hope you share it widely! Emily is welcoming feedback you may have on this document. The form below can be used to report a broken link, share feedback on the resource, or ask questions that are not addressed in the guidance that might be helpful in future iterations of the document.
Feedback Link for English Learner Framework
For other questions, Emily can be reached at: Emily.Scott@ksde.gov
Reasons to Celebrate!
Tune in to the Kansas Board of Education's monthly meeting for the Reading Corner!
Each Tuesday of the board meeting (the 2nd week of the month), usually around 1:30pm, we highlight great things that are happening around the state of Kansas to share bright spots of literacy excellence! Agendas for the meetings can be found at this link. You can also listen in to the live streamed recording of the proceedings-or you can follow on the KSDE Live Media YouTube channel HERE. We have been honored since June to have educators and students share their experiences...Hayden Hoskins shared about an incredible teacher, Mrs. Morgenstern, an educator from DeSoto, who made a difference in his life; We heard about the incredible summer program that is provided in Goddard, USD 265; and how educators in USD 259, Wichita get students in kindergarten off to a strong start with intentional instruction of early literacy lessons. This past month we heard from reading specialist, Sarah Newton, USD 336 in Holton who along with two incredible students, shared the lived experience of the hard work needed to overcome reading difficulty and the success that can come with time and lots of hard work!
Tune in to be inspired and learn from others! Next month we will be hearing about literacy connections with PRE-K and the resources provided through Child Nutrition and Wellness.
Literacy Lifeline Questions/ Answers
Literacy Lifeline is up and available to answer your questions!
If you have a question about literacy professional practice, or anything else related to improving student literacy learning - the KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia team is here to help! You can ask a question using the linked form below and request it be answered via a Zoom virtual conference/ consulting session, an email, or suggest it as a possible article in this newsletter.
You are allowed to take things ONE STEP AT A TIME!
If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please ask them to contact me at ELitDyslexia@ksde.gov to request being added to the Early Literacy/ Dyslexia listserv, or visit the KSDE Dyslexia page and select the purple HERE button and select Newsletter to see the current and past issues.
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