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Special Programs » Dyslexia

Dyslexia

In the state of Texas, students who continue to struggle with reading, despite appropriate or intensified
instruction, are provided organized systems of reading support. Some students struggle during early reading
acquisition while others do not struggle until the later grades, even at the postsecondary level. Here they face
more complex language demands, for example reading textbooks, academic texts, and other print materials.
For many struggling readers, the difficulty may be due to dyslexia. Dyslexia is found in all student populations
and languages. Some students with dyslexia may be emergent bilingual (EB) who struggle with reading
not only in English, but also in their native language. In Texas, evaluation for dyslexia is conducted from
kindergarten through grade 12.

 

TEC (TEC) §38.003 defines dyslexia and related disorders, mandates screening and testing students for dyslexia
and the provision of instruction for students with dyslexia and gives the State Board of Education (SBOE)
authority to adopt rules and standards for screening, testing, and serving students with dyslexia. Additionally,
TEC 7.102(c)(28) charges the SBOE with approving a program for testing students with dyslexia and related
disorders. HB 3928, passed during the 88th regular legislative session, requires the program, which is described
in Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.28 and the Dyslexia Handbook, to not include a distinction
between standard protocol dyslexia instruction, as this was included in the 2021 handbook version, and other
types of direct dyslexia instruction, including specially designed instruction. The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) establishes assessment and evaluation standards and procedures for students (34 C.F.R.
Part 300 (IDEA)).

                                                                                                                      Texas Dyslexia Handbook, 2024 Update

 

The Dyslexia Handbook contains guidelines for school districts to follow as they identify and provide services for students with dyslexia. In addition, information regarding the state’s dyslexia statutes and their relation to various federal laws is included.

 

For more information regarding dyslexia services, please reach out to:

Dr. Midge Simmons, Director of Special Programs

 

Governing Documents

 

Dyslexia Information

Dyslexia Intervention at NYOS

In NYOS for the 2024-25 school year, the following interventions are used for students with dyslexia: 

  • K-2 Fundations 
  • 2-5 Wilson Reading System
  • 6-12 Basic Language Skills Therapy and Reading by Design

 

Fundations is an introduction for young students to Wilson Reading System: A Structured Literacy (SL) program based on phonological-coding research and Orton-Gillingham principles.

 

The Wilson Reading System (WRS) is a systematic, explicit, cumulative, intensive, and focused approach used to teach the structure of the English language/total word structure for decoding and encoding. WRS uses a systematic and integrated approach to decoding, morphology and the study of word elements, encoding and orthography (internalizing the rules that govern English), high frequency word instruction, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.


Basic Language Skills Therapy (BLS): Developed by the Neuhaus Education Center. Explicit, systematic, intensive literacy instruction for students with dyslexia or related language learning differences. Literacy instructional framework that is systematic, sequential, intensive, and comprehensive.

 
Reading by Design (RBD): Reading by Design is a systematic, explicit, multisensory, and intensive reading intervention that was created by developers at the Texas Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston. 
 

Audiobook Resources

Learning Ally is a free audiobook solution that helps to bridge the gap by providing equitable access to grade-level content

The Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. 

Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy or other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style.