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Academics: Special Programs & District Testing » 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.

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

Dr. Midge Simmons
Director of Special Programs
[email protected]
512-583-6967 Ext 3220

What is Dyslexia?

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)).

The Dyslexia Handbook

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.

Governing Documents

Dyslexia Intervention at NYOS

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

  • K-2: Fundations
    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.

  • 2-5: Wilson Reading System
    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.

  • 6-12: Basic Language Skills Therapy
    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.

  • 6-12: 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. 

More Information