Decoding Dyslexia: Minnesota

MDE has created a Dyslexia Screening Guide for school districts

MDE has put together a Dyslexia Screening Guide for MN School districts to help them be compliant with the new dyslexia screening law. The following question would be a great question to ask your school district, "What was the reporting results that our district provided to MDE on 7/1/2017 about our efforts to screen and identify students with dyslexia (MN Statute 120B.12, Subd 2)?"

Find the Dyslexia Screening Guide on the MDE website called Revising Local Literacy Plans to Include “Efforts to Identify Students with Dyslexia - 8/16/17"  This guidance is provided to address district response to students with dyslexia under Minnesota's reading intervention law.  Another document called Assessment Plan References was also created by MDE providing assessments that are used by districts across the state. 

Parents Advocacy For Struggling Readers - What Does MN Law have to say?

"My school doesn’t say dyslexia."

• In 2015, the definition of dyslexia was passed into MN Statute 125A.01, Subd 2. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) also says dyslexia.

"Our school doesn’t have any resources on dyslexia."

• A comprehensive guide was developed by MDE and Decoding Dyslexia MN called “Navigating the School System when a Child is Struggling with Reading or Dyslexia”. and can be found under Parent Resources.

• In 2017, funds were appropriated for MDE to hire a Dyslexia Specialist to provide technical assistance for dyslexia, to serve as the primary source of information, to support schools in addressing the needs of students with dyslexia, and to increase professional awareness and instructional competencies to meet the needs of these students (MN Statute 120B.122).

"How are schools identifying and serving students that have characteristics of dyslexia?"

• MN Statute 120B.12, Subd 2, states that each school district must report to MDE their “efforts to screen and identify students with dyslexia to the commissioner by July 1st of each year.”  A student identified must be provided with alternative instruction under MN Statute 125A.56 Subd 1, that is multisensory, systematic, sequential, cumulative, and explicit. 

• In 2017, MN Statute 120B.12, Subd 3b, was changed to state that a “school district is strongly encouraged to provide a Personal Learning Plan for a student who is unable to demonstrate grade-level proficiency, and should be developed in consultation with the student’s parent or guardian. The personal learning plan must address knowledge gaps and skill deficiencies”.

"My school wants to stop reading intervention since my child is past 3rd grade."

• In 2017, an amendment was added to MN Statute 120B.12, Subd 3, stating that the district must continue to provide reading intervention past 3rd grade until the child is reading at grade level.

"How do I know what assessments our elementary school provides to track reading progress?"

• Each school district is required to have a Local Literacy Plan posted on its website per MN Statute 120B.12, Subd 4a, that explains the school’s “plan to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3”.  If you can’t find it on your district’s website, ask for it.

For a printable version of the above statements, click here. 

For a longer version including the statute language, click here.