Supports for Students with Dyslexia

What is dyslexia? 

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading. People with dyslexia often have difficulty reading quickly without mistakes, reading comprehension and spelling. People with dyslexia might also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing.

Dyslexia has a range of severity and is also often present with other learning disabilities, such as attention deficit disorder. Kids with dyslexia don’t outgrow it, but there are teaching approaches and strategies that can help them improve their reading skills.

The signs of dyslexia look different at different ages. If you think your child might have dyslexia and want to know more about what it looks like at various ages, here is a helpful guide from the Colorado Department of Education. 

For even more information, you can view this fact sheet from the Colorado Department of Education.

How does Adams 12 Five Star Schools support students with dyslexia?

Five Star Schools is developing a comprehensive Strategic Literacy Plan to support all students as they become proficient and independent readers and writers. This plan includes student supports, assessments and professional development for educators specifically designed to support students with dyslexia. 

Here is a summary of the components of the plan specific to supporting students with dyslexia and dyslexia-like needs:

Five Star Framework for Dyslexia Support Goals

Student achievement

• We aim to decrease the percentage of students with a significant reading deficiency in grades K-3 at a rate equal to or better than the state.
• We aim to decrease the percentage of students on a District Literacy Plans in grades 4-12 by 5 percent over 3 years. 
• We aim to increase the overall percentage of third grade students scoring meets or exceeds on state assessments at a rate equal to or better than the state.

Climate and Culture

• Resources and progress monitoring tools collaboratively developed by Educators, Special Education and Literacy teams
• Initiate and respond to frequent opportunities to collaborate with other school districts, within and outside of Colorado.
• Increase opportunities for educators and families to participate in dyslexia simulations. 
• Create opportunities for Five Star students with dyslexia to partner with educators so they can share their perspective as a learner in our system and provide guidance and ideas for consideration.
• Develop and implement an iterative, standard approach for how students across all levels receive supplemental instruction and classroom accommodations in addition to universal instruction.
• Partner with Adams 12 KID in their planning for student/parent engagement

Social-Emotional Wellbeing 

• Create opportunities for students to share their successes in overcoming reading challenges and difficulties
• Develop and implement a system wide dyslexia awareness training to de-stigmatize dyslexia and increase staff sensitivity 

​Future steps Five Star Schools has identified to help reach these goals:

• Every child in kindergarten through third grade will be screened for dyslexia.
• Every child in first through fifth grade will complete a timed writing sample to identify students at risk for reading and writing difficulties, including dyslexia and dysgraphia.
• Educators will get universal training on the characteristics and indicators of dyslexia, foundational reading standards, and how they can prompt conversations about dyslexia with parents and guardians.
• The district will provide targeted supplementary instruction and support to students who have dyslexia, indicators of dyslexia, or significant reading gaps in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency and reading comprehension
• Multisensory, structured literacy intervention for students with identified dyslexic characteristics and/or pervasive skills gaps in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency and reading comprehension

​What do I do if I think my child has dyslexia? 

If you’re concerned about your child’s progress for any reason, the best first step is to contact their teacher. They can talk with you about your concerns, share information with you about what your child can do, and develop a plan for instructional supports to help your child succeed. 

If you still have questions or concerns after talking to your child's teacher please contact your school administrator (principal or assistant principal).

Parent Resources

• CDE: Dyslexia Fact Sheet - Colorado Department of Education quick fact sheet about dyslexia
• Understood - Website, tools, articles, webinars for teachers and parents
• IDA - International Dyslexia Association Website
• Adams 12 KID - A parent group of Five Star families working to raise awareness about dyslexia