Early Literacy Screener
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Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, students in Grades K-2 will be screened for indicators and areas of weakness associated with dyslexia. NTPS is utilizing easyCBM and the Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus Tests (RAN/RAS) to screen students.
This work is done in alignment with the Washington State Legislature’s requirement to use a Multi-Tiered System of Intervention (MTSS) to provide interventions to students in grades K-2 who display early literacy skills that are associated with dyslexia.
Providing MTSS to support students that need additional foundational reading support is in compliance with WA State law, RCW 28A320.260. Each school year, students will be screened using tools and resources that exemplify best practices, as described under RCW 28A.300.700.
The 65th WA State Legislature, 2018 Regular Session, adopted the definition of Dyslexia as “a specific learning disorder that is neurological in origin and that is characterized by unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities that are not consistent with the person’s intelligence, motivation, and sensory capabilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological components of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” E2SSB 6162
This work is aligned with our Strategic Plan, particularly Goal 4, Continuous Growth-All Students, All Subjects, as well as our district’s focus on equitable outcomes for all students.
Resources:
- OSPI Parent & Caregiver Resources, scroll down for more, including educational information, and a discussion guide (PDF), in the following languages: Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
- National Center on Improving Literacy https://improvingliteracy.org/
- International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/
- Dyslexia Myths and Facts University of Florida Literacy Institute
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is my child being screened?
These literacy screeners help us identify students who need additional support to become strong readers. Early intervention to address reading difficulties is the best way to prevent early problems from becoming more severe over time. NTPS has a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) that begins with high-quality initial instruction (also called core instruction) and additional intervention for students who need it (Tier 2).
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The literacy screener does not provide the basis for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? Why?
This is a general education screener to identify the need for additional foundational reading support. The screening is not a tool for evaluating students for Special Education services. Additional support in general education will be provided for students to increase their foundational reading skills. If the student does not begin to acquire foundational reading skills, the school team will monitor and make recommendations.
The dyslexia screener could be used as data for a student’s evaluation for special education, just as progress monitoring data is used, but it cannot be used as the determining factor. -
Will English Learners be screened?
All students participate in easyCBM. However, only students that have acquired enough English language measured by the state’s language screener/assessment will take the RAN/RAS.