County board adopts dyslexia screening tool to meet state mandate for K-2 students

The Orange County Board of Education approved the department—s selection of a dyslexia screening tool for kindergarten through second grade students during its regular late-June meeting.

The item fulfills a state law requiring public education agencies to select and publicly report the screening instrument they will use for early identification of reading difficulties. "The mandate required us to pick a screening tool that we would utilize with our students, and these are for kindergarten through grade 2," an OCDE administrator said. Staff told trustees they reviewed four options and selected the instrument most appropriate for both general education students and students with disabilities.

Why it matters: Early screening for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, aims to identify students who may benefit from early interventions. OCDE staff emphasized the selection process involved reading specialists and considered accessibility for OCDE—s student populations. The board voted 4-0 to approve the screening tool.

Implementation: Staff said the screening is targeted at K-2 pupils; OCDE expects to make the tool available to districts and to use it where OCDE directly serves these grade levels. The department noted some students in special education already receive similar assessments as part of individualized educational planning.

Ending: Trustees asked for clarification about which early-childhood programs were covered; staff pointed to OCDE programs that support young children identified as deaf or hard of hearing and said early intervention services are part of existing family-support programs.