In the first article of this series, we outlined research-based interventions that schools can use to help struggling readers while also following the California Dyslexia Guidelines. We left you with the CDE’s important message that, “when a student has demonstrated limited or slower-than-expected progress, additional assessment is needed.” So, what exactly does that mean? In most cases, additional assessment means referring the student for a special education evaluation. In turn, a special education evaluation means assessing for traits of a specific learning disability. The CDE guidelines haven’t changed this process –– they’ve only expanded it to include consideration for traits of dyslexia. Since as many as 80 to 90 percent of children who struggle with a learning disorder have dyslexia, the guidelines are a crucial step toward correcting past under identification. As part of this process, it is important for schools to use evidence-based screeners to identify traits of the disorder prior to referring for special education (see our first article, California Dyslexia Guidelines: What Next?).
In this article, we continue to discuss key elements of the CDE guidelines while offering next steps for students who have not responded favorably to Tier 1 and 2 intervention.
What does it mean if a student isn’t making the expected reading progress with Tier 2 support? In our experience, most educators know that an underlying learning disorder (aka learning disability to us special education folk) could be to blame. In such cases, schools usually know what Child Find says to do (i.e. consider a special education evaluation) and are comfortable doing it.
The thing is, dyslexia is just a fancy name for a specific type of LD, so the process really isn’t that different.
Here’s a quick refresher of what to do when student progress is stalled at Tier 2:
First and foremost, teams should meet to review the student’s progress, discuss options, and make a decision about how to proceed. As long as the team is using data to guide their decision-making process, there are a few acceptable options. However, be sure to keep the student’s parents or guardians informed by documenting the process, explaining their rights, and obtaining their signed agreement.
Sometimes students benefit from interventions, but at a slower pace than expected. When progress is steady, teams may decide that intervention should continue, and they don’t necessarily need assessment to do this. (Quick tip: the purpose of special education assessment is to determine if a student meets IDEA criteria for a disability category and to make programming recommendations). However, if the team decides that no additional assessment is needed, it’s imperative that the student’s parents or guardians understand the reason for this decision and that they understand their options.
Students with any learning disorder, including dyslexia, may be eligible for 504 support even if they do not meet the special education criteria for a specific learning disability (see our previous post, 504 or IEP?). A student with dyslexia doesn’t automatically require special education services, but they are entitled to additional support per Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The California Dyslexia Guidelines provide great recommendations for general education assessment starting on page 49.
Per the guidelines, examples of 504 supports for students with dyslexia include:
While many students with dyslexia respond well to 504 support, there are times when a special education evaluation is appropriate. These include:
Just like other learning disorders, dyslexia falls under the special education (IDEA) category of specific learning disability. In most cases, a school psychologist and education specialist will work together to complete the assessment.
In addition to the standard testing procedures for assessment of LD, a comprehensive assessment of dyslexia should include the following areas of cognitive and academic functioning:
Phonological processing/phonetic coding/phonemic awareness
Rapid automatic naming
Orthographic skills
Auditory working memory/memory span
Reading fluency
Verbal fluency
Verbal/auditory comprehension/association
Reading foundational skills (Including sound decoding and symbol awareness)
DON’T FORGET: The results of formal assessment should always be interpreted in the context of a student’s primary language, oral language proficiency, developmental and medical history, and family history. The CDE guidelines offer great input about what cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors to consider when assessing for dyslexia.
Once a student has been assessed and identified with dyslexia, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be implemented. In addition to other accommodations, teams should consider adding (or continuing) assistive technology, such as:
Students with an IEP may also require Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) that is intended to provide a remedial, evidence-based approach to teaching academic skills. For students with dyslexia, this includes learning to read in a specialized multi-sensory way. Some schools provide these as pull-out services in a resource room, while others provide inclusion support in the student’s general education classroom.
However, it is just as imperative to understand the strengths of research-based curricula for subtypes of dyslexia. For instance, a child with poor phonemic awareness may do well with a phonics-based program and a child with orthography weaknesses may benefit from structured word inquiry and direct instruction on morphology and etymology in addition to a phonics-based program. These are some Tier 3 (i.e. special education) interventions to consider: