Dyslexia Screening & Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program

Students gained valuable literacy skills and celebrated summer at the Dyslexia Pilot funded North Side Summer Camp June 19-23, 2017. Science experiments, fun phys ed, camp-themed activities, and Sonday intervention made up a menu of fun for approximately 70 North Side Primary students incoming K-2.

Guidance Letter from the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

President Signs Dyslexia Bill Into Law
 

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou
 

Act 69 of 2014, the Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program became effective on June 26, 2014. As a result of the Act, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has established a three-year dyslexia screening and early literacy intervention pilot program that is being executed from 2015-2018. The purpose of the pilot is to provide evidence-based early screening and multitier support systems, using evidence-based intervention services for students with potential risk factors for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia, such as low phonemic awareness, low letter and symbol naming and inability to remember sequences.

Since the original announcement of the pilot requirements under Act 69 legislation, the PDE expanded participation to three (3) districts under 3,000 student population to provide an opportunity for all to participate. There is a total of eight (8) districts in the pilot. PDE selected school districts from regions located East, Central and West in the Commonwealth to insure balanced representation: five (5) school districts with student populations between 3,000 and 15,000 and three school districts below the student population of 3,000.

The following denotes the parameters of the Pilot Project:

  • Operate for three (3) full school years beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
  • Select at least three (3) school districts to participate in the Pilot Program.
  • Require a signed statement as evidence of ongoing support from the Board President and Superintendent confirming their participation and committing support for the full implementation for a period of at least three (3) years in addressing screening, intervention, core program, diagnostic assessments, and evaluation procedures.

Dyslexia Pilot Project Information