Senate Enrolled Act 217 is legislation enacted to draw awareness and initiate actions on behalf of students with dyslexia. The legislation requires that, by the 2019-2020 school year, corporations will include criteria in their reading plan about screening students for dyslexia and providing interventions for students identified to be at risk. Schools must also provide staff with training and employ a reading specialist.

The Indiana Department of Education is creating guidance for school districts. To date, they have released Initial Dyslexia Guidance and specific guidance on Dyslexia Screeners. While our districts work to digest the dyslexia legislation and craft revised reading plans, know that Article 7 has not changed!! Our schools have been addressing the needs of students with dyslexia through multi-tiered systems of supports. Earlywood has information and resources on their website including a brochure about how dyslexia is considered as part of a reading disability.

If you’d like to learn more, I recommend PATINS page on Dyslexia Resources, the Arkansas Dyslexia Resource Guide, and Texas Dyslexia Information.

Dr. Angie Balsley, Executive Director