Dyslexia Information
Dyslexia Awareness Webinar
To participate in dyslexia awareness training, please view the webinar below and complete the corresponding quiz. I will email principals a list of staff who have completed the video and quiz on May 17th, May 24th, and August 10th. Once you have watched it and taken the quiz, you may enter it in as individual PD.
What is Dyslexia?
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 the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
~Adopted by IDA: November 2002
If you are concerned that your child may have characteristics of dyslexia, please contact your child's school to determine next steps.
To learn more about dyslexia and characteristics of dyslexia, view the video below.
Characteristics of Dyslexia
Underlying Cause: Deficit in the phonological processing (Phonological awareness, phonological
memory, and\or rapid naming)
Characteristics:
• Difficulty reading real words in isolation
• Difficulty accurately decoding nonsense or unfamiliar words
• Poor reading fluency (rate, accuracy, labored)
• Poor spelling
Outcomes:
• Difficulty with reading comprehension
• Reduced reading experience that limits vocabulary and background knowledge
Arkansas Department of Education Dyslexia Resource Guide, Revised December 2017
For questions, comments, or records request, please contact
Heather Bishop,
LRSD Dyslexia Specialist,
501-447-3368
Act 1039 Reporting By the School District (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-606 (b))
Dyslexia Intervention Program Information:
2019-present: In 2019, Little Rock School District began using the Wilson Reading System in small group intervention to adress the defecit areas of students identified as exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia. Various teachers and professionals are trained in Lindamood Bell-LIPS, Take Flight, and/or Alphabetic phonics and may utilize these programs as needed to address student need. For more information on the Wilson Reading System and other Wilson Language Training programs, you may visit thier website here. For more information about LRSD and Dyslexia Services, please visit www.lrsd.org/dyslexia.
Dyslexia Intervention Program Information:
During the 2023-2024 school year, 1422 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist. Tier 2 intervention numbers are not included in this total.
During the 2022-2023 school year, 1,498 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist. Tier 2 intervention numbers are not included in this total.
During the 2021-2022 school year, 1,605 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist. Tier 2 intervention numbers are not included in this total.
During the 2020-2021 school year, 1,997 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist. Tier 2 intervention numbers are not included in this total.
During the 2019-2020 school year, 1,582 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist. During the 2019-2020 school year, LRSD adopted the Wilson Language Training programs, which are designed to create a multi-tiered system of support for all students. Many students who were previously receiving tier 3 intervention made progress and began receiving tier 2 intervention. Tier 2 intervention numbers are not included in this total.
During the 2018-2019 school year, 1,622 students attending Little Rock School District received dyslexia intervention services from a trained dyslexia interventionist.
Total Number of Students Identified as Exhibiting the Characteristics of Dyslexia
During the 2023-2024 school year, 1493 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
During the 2022-2023 school year, 1,522 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
During the 2021-2022 school year, 1,642 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
During the 2020-2021 school year, 2,010 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
During the 2019-2020 school year, 1,646 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
During the 2018-2019 school year, 1,658 students attending Little Rock School District were identified as exhibiting the characteristics of dyslexia.
Helpful Links
Literacy Curriculum:
Websites:
International Dyslexia Association
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
Support for Dyslexia/ University of Michigan
LRSD Dyslexia and Reading Intervention Documents and Forms
LRSD Dyslexia Staff Guide (updated 9/10/21)-
This document is a comprehensive guide to Dyslexia RTI, Intervention, Procedures, and Forms for LRSD staff.
It includes most of the below resources
Flow Charts:
K-2 Dyslexia Screening Flow Chart (12-10-2020)
3-12 Dyslexia Screening Flow Chart (updated 12-10-2020)
Outside Diagnosis Dyslexia Screening Flow Chart Dyslexia (4/23/19)
Initial Screening (K-2):
K-2 Parent Initial Dyslexia Screening and Reading Report Parent Letter (updated 9/9/21)
Spanish K-2 Parent Initial Dyslexia Screening and Reading Report Parent Letter
Initial Screening Chart (K-2) (updated 9/9/21)
Initial Screening K-2 Decision Tree
Act 940
K-2 Parent Initial Dyslexia Screening and Reading Report Parent Letter (updated 9/9/21)
Spanish K-2 Parent Initial Dyslexia Screening and Reading Report Parent Letter
Letter for Reporting Independent Reading Levels Grade 3-8
Spanish Letter for Reporting Independent Reading Levels Grade 3-8
Level 1 Screening:
Parent Interview for Level 1 Screener (English and Spanish) (updated 9/9/21)
LRSD Teacher Referral Form/ Early Indicator Checklist (updated 9/9/21)
Characteristics of Dyslexia Profile Forms:
Characteristics of Dyslexia Profile Form for K-2 (updated 9/9/21)
Characteristics of Dyslexia Profile Form for 3-12 (updated 9/9/21)
Level II/ Comprehensive Characteristics of Dyslexia Profile Form (updated 9/9/21)
LRSD Tier 2 Reading Intervention Recommendation Forms for 6-12 (not required):
LRSD Secondary Tier 2 Intervention Form (English and Spanish) (updated 9/9/21)
LRSD Tier 3 Reading Intervention/ Dyslexia Forms:
LRSD Tier 3 Reading Intervention Parent Form (updated 9/9/21)
Spanish LRSD Tier 3 Reading Intervention Parent Form (updated 9/9/21)
LRSD Tier 3 Reading Intervention Parent Packet (updated 9/9/21)
Spanish LRSD Tier 3 Reading Intervention Parent Packet (updated 9/9/21)
Forms for Tier 3 Dyslexia Intervention Providers:
LRSD Dyslexia Intervention Resources and Links (you must sign in with your LRSD Google account to access)
Dyslexia Orange Folder Checklist
LRSD Dyslexia Materials.Records Transfer Procedures
Hard Copy of Dyslexia Screening and Intervention Form (CHANGE FORM) (updated 9/9/21)
Dyslexia Screening/ Intervention Reporting Form in CIS
Sign into CIS with your district username and password.
click on 1. Menu
2. Student Services
3. Dyslexia Screening/ Intervention
Possible IEP Goals for WRS Steps 1-6
Exit Forms:
Parental Consent to Exit Dyslexia Intervention (updated 9/9/21)
Spanish: Parental Consent to Exit Dyslexia Intervention (updated 9/9/21)
Action Plan and Presentations:
LRSD Dyslexia Plan Report: 08/30/2019
Elementary Dyslexia Awareness PowerPoint for reference
Secondary Dyslexia Awareness PowerPoint for reference
Dyslexia Awareness Quiz for LRSD employees
Additional Dyslexia Support
Arkansas Dyslexia Resource Guide
The Soar Binder: a binder for organization support
Wave notebook: notetaking support
Identifying Students with Dyslexia in Middle and High School
Assistive Technology Support (updated 4-3-19)
Microsoft Learning Tools in Action
How to use the Immersive Reader Tool in Word Online
All students have access to Immersive Reader in Word and One Note in Office 365
Go to the Microsoft 365 webpage
Username: firstname.lastname###-first 3 numbers of student ID (ex. john.smith123)
Password is Student ID number
Calm app( free for teachers): an app to support mindfulness and reduce stress and anxiety
Read/Watch List
Movies
The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia
How Difficult Can This Be: The F.A.T. City Workshop
Books
Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Beverly J. Wolf M.Ed.
Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction by Marcia K. Henry Ph.D.