Services for Students With Dyslexia
December 12, 2017
Lindbergh Schools is committed to providing challenging, effective and appropriate educational opportunities for every child who walks through our doors. We know that students come to us with a wide range of unique needs that require specialized, purposeful instruction in order to have the greatest impact and success, and our goal is to promote growth and increased individual achievement for children of all abilities.
We understand that dyslexia an important issue for many parents, and our Curriculum and Instruction Department is always available to answer any questions you may have. Below are some of the most common questions we receive from families.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that do not affect general intelligence.
How does Lindbergh serve students with dyslexia?
Lindbergh is currently piloting a number of nationally recognized programs to find out which programs and tools are most effective in helping students with dyslexia improve their reading and comprehension skills. These pilots are preparing our teachers and reading specialists to support future screening and implementation of multi-tiered layers of support for students with dyslexia, beginning in the 2018-19 school year when Missouri legislative requirements will go into effect. Students come to us with a wide range of needs, and we must respond by creating various levels of interventions and accommodations.
When will Lindbergh begin screening students for dyslexia?
School districts across the state expect that the Missouri legislature may require dyslexia screening for all students beginning in the 2018-19 school year. Until that occurs, Lindbergh’s focus will be on developing a strong instructional plan for students with dyslexia, so we can be ready and equipped to effectively serve students once they are properly screened and identified. This intentional approach will allow Lindbergh students to be both identified and supported through a comprehensive plan.
How are Lindbergh teachers being trained to help students?
Lindbergh teachers already have spent countless hours collaborating to build structures to effectively implement instruction for students with dyslexia. This collaboration continues in order to ensure strong programming for students well into the future. Recently, Lindbergh’s Curriculum and Instruction Department led a regional meeting with administrators from across the St. Louis area, and Kim Stuckey, who leads the Missouri Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia, in an effort to prepare for the state recommendations that will be shared in late December 2017. Reading specialists in Lindbergh are also participating in a book study with the district’s literacy coach that focuses on building phonemic awareness for students of all ages.
What does the state of Missouri require?
We are closely following the state’s progress through the Missouri Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia, and expect them to release requirements for training of teachers and screening of students in late December 2017. Legislative mandates for dyslexia screening, supports and professional development will become effective in fall 2018.
To prepare, Lindbergh is collaborating directly with leaders of the state task force, having detailed conversations so that we can plan appropriately to begin serving students as quickly as possible once the requirements are announced. We are piloting programs for classroom instruction and reading intervention, to design a multi-tiered system of support. In addition, our curriculum department is collaborating with Special School District and we plan to fully leverage those resources as well.