Dyslexia Screening & Intervention

In accordance with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 217 and Portage Township School Board of Trustees policy 2462, Portage Township Schools will provide dyslexia screening and intervention beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

PTS will utilize a universal screener approved by the Indiana Department of Education that includes indicators for dyslexia that include:
          A. Phonological and phonemic awareness
          B. Sound symbol recognition
          C. Alphabet knowledge
          D. Decoding skills
          E. Rapid naming skills
          F. Encoding skills

If a student is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia following this screening, a Level I dyslexia screening will be administered. If a student's dyslexia screening indicates the need for dyslexia intervention services for the student, the dyslexia intervention may include one or more of the following:
          A. Explicit, direct instruction that is systematic, sequential, and cumulative and follows a logical plan of presenting the alphabetic principle that targets the specific needs of the student without presuming prior skills or knowledge of the student;
          B. individualized instruction to meet the specific needs of the student in a setting that uses intensive, highly concentrated instruction methods and materials that maximize student engagement;
          C. meaning-based instruction directed at purposeful reading and writing with an emphasis on comprehension and composition;
          D. instruction that incorporates the simultaneous and use of two or more sensory pathways during teacher presentations and student practice; and
          E. other instructional approaches as determined appropriate by the Corporation.

Before July 15, 2019, and before July 15 of each year thereafter, the Corporation shall report on its Internet website the following information:

Dyslexia Screening and Intervention