Dyslexia Program Information

North Hopkins Independent School District's Dyslexia Program properly identifies students with dyslexia, provides academic support to meet their individual needs and assists the students in developing skills to compensate for any difficulties they may have in order to become successful individuals.

Dyslexia Defined
As defined in TEC §38.003 (The Dyslexia Law):
“Dyslexia” means a disorder of constitutional origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity.

"Related disorders" includes disorders similar to or related to dyslexia such as developmental auditory imperceptions, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia, developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.

The International Dyslexia Association’s definition of dyslexia states:
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

If you suspect that your child may need to be evaluated for dyslexia, please contact your campus administrator regarding your concerns. They will be able to assist you with this process.

Dyslexia Screening

Texas state law (TEC §38.003) requires that public school students be screened and tested as appropriate for dyslexia and related disorders at appropriate times in accordance with a program approved by the SBOE (State Board of Education). The program approved by the SBOE must include screening for each student at the end of the kindergarten year and then again during first grade.

Texas Education Code §38.003 does not explicitly state when first grade students must be screened. The SBOE, through approval of the rule which requires adherence to the Dyslexia handbook (TAC §74.28) has determined that students in first grade must be screened no later than the middle of the school year. Screening of first-grade students can begin anytime in the fall as the teacher deems appropriate. Grade 1 screening must conclude no later than January 31 of each year.

The Dyslexia Handbook describes the screening criteria for this requirement. The updates to the Dyslexia Handbook include a reduction in the number of skills that must be included on the instrument used by LEAs to screen for dyslexia. The updated criteria for English and Spanish screening instruments are as follows:

Kindergarten (screened in May)	First Grade (screened by January 31)
Letter Sound Knowledge or Letter Naming Fluency	Word Reading Accuracy or Fluency
Phonological Awareness	Phonological Awareness