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Effective Education is the Root of Equity

Join Decoding Dyslexia DC on
Wednesday, February 19, 7:00 PM 

Is your child struggling in school? Is the school brushing off your concerns?
Do you know that you have legal rights under IDEA? Schools often dismiss parental concerns of potential disabilities and fail to inform parents of their procedural safeguard rights. You do not have to take “No” for an answer, and there are arguments you can make to get the school to listen. The key is knowing your rights and which “buzz” words to use. This presentation will help arm you with this knowledge and empower you to advocate for your child. A Q&A session will follow Education attorney and advocate Frances Shefter's presentation.

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With a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Towson University and a M.S. in Special Education from Florida International University, Frances began her career as a classroom teacher. She taught regular and special education classes for seven years and ran the Special Education Department for two years. In these positions, she attended and ran Individualized Education Plan meetings and Child Study Team meetings; observed children in the classroom; developed behavior modification plans; attended and ran manifestation hearings; monitored implementation of IEPs, 504s, and behavior modification plans; and administered and helped to interpret various evaluations. These experiences have given her inside knowledge that is invaluable to assisting parents and guardians in seeking a Free Appropriate Public Education for their child.With a law office based in Rockville, MD, Frances is currently admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Frances’s background puts her in a unique position at any IEP table.  She is the only person at the table who can say she has been in almost every position that makes up the team.  She has been the regular education teacher, the special education teacher, the LEA designee, the attorney, and the mom.  This enables her to communicate to parents and team members with compassion, a deep understanding of the Education law, and an unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of children with learning differences.

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Decoding Dyslexia DC
and the
DC Office of the
Student Advocate (OSA)
have published a
Guide For Struggling Readers & Spellers in DC.
Check it out!

 

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Watch this TEDx Talk

"Dyslexia and Privilege"
-Samantha Coppola

Thank You, Chairman Mendelson & Council! 

Please write to Chairman Mendelson, your Ward Council member, and staff to express your gratitude for passing and fully funding this important new law. The children of the District have a right to read and they are counting on us.

Chairman Phil Mendelson:

(202) 724-8032

pmendelson@dccouncil.us

staff: csetlow@dccouncil.us

ljordan@dccouncil.us

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Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1:

(202) 724-8181

bnadeau@dccouncil.us

staff: rlancaster@dccouncil.us

 

Brooke Pinto, Ward 2:

(202) 724-8058

bpinto@dccouncil.us

staff: ehanson@dccouncil.us

 

Matthew Frumin, Ward 3:

(202) 724-8062

mfrumin@dccouncil.us

staff: lcmiles@dcouncil.us

 

Janeese Lewis-George, Ward 4:

(202) 724-8052

jlewisgeorge@dccouncil.us

staff: wperkins@dccouncil.us

 

Zachary Parker, Ward 5:

(202) 724-8028

zparker@dccouncil.us

staff: rroberts@dccouncil.us

 

Charles Allen, Ward 6:

(202) 724-8072

callen@dccouncil.us

staff: lmarks@dccouncil.us

 

Vincent Gray, Ward 7:

(202) 724-8068

vgray@dccouncil.us

staff: tnorflis@dccouncil.us

 

Trayon White, Ward 8:

(202) 724-8045

white@dccouncil.us

staff: tgjackson@dccouncil.us

 

Anita Bonds, At Large:

(202) 724-8064

abonds@dccouncil.us

staff: dmeadows@dccouncil.us

 

Christina Henderson, At Large:

(202) 724-8105

chenderson@dccouncil.us

staff: mrichburg@dccouncil.us

 

Kenyan R. McDuffie, At Large:

(202) 724-7772

kmcduffie@dccouncil.us

staff: dparks@dccouncil.us

 

Robert White, At Large:

(202) 724-8174

rwhite@dccouncil.us

staff: afowlkes@dccouncil.us

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THANK YOU, EdReformNow for choosing
Decoding Dyslexia DC as a recipient of EdReformNow's Inaugural

Equity Champion Award
for our literacy work and our contribution to the collective pursuit of equity in DC.

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The Dyslexia Bill is being implemented! 

Read the legislation here:


Bill Highlights:

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2022-2023   Provide professional development on Science of Reading (required for all K-2 teachers) and Dyslexia Awareness Training (for all K-12 Public and Charter school teachers citywide); Provide guidance on Reading screeners

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2023-2024   Implement new screening protocols  in all K-2 DCPS and Charter schools; Provide interventions based on the science of reading to at-risk students; Provide written notification of results to parent/guardian and meet to discuss subsequent plans for student support; DCPS and Charter Schools to report annually to OSSE indicating they have complied with the law.

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2024-2025 Each DCPS and Charter School will adopt a core reading curriculum based on the science of reading.

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   Background on Reading in DC:

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  • In 2019, only 30% of DC 4th grade students were reading at or above a proficient level. 

  • In 2019, only 5% of DC special education students were proficient on the PARCC exam 

  • Research indicates 85-90% of students with disabilities can perform at grade level when given appropriate support

  • Research shows intensive reading intervention in K/1st Grade is most effective, but OSSE data show that DC students are largely identified as having a specific learning disability often many years later

  • DCPS started a Dyslexia task force in January, 2020 

  • 1,483 DCPS teachers attended a one-hour “Science of Reading” Professional Development (PD) event in June, 2020

  • 599 DCPS teachers attended a three-hour dyslexia PD in June

  • While DCPS has science-based reading programs such as Wilson Fundations and Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, not all schools use them for initial instruction, and not all teachers have extensive training in them. Some DCPS schools use programs based on “cueing” or guessing techniques such as Reading Recovery

  • Most teacher education programs provide little, if any, training on identifying and supporting students with dyslexia

  • While schools may use screeners like DIBELS, many teachers have not received adequate training on data interpretation and how scores can be used to guide decision-making regarding teaching struggling readers

  • Although many teachers have had little or no training in the nature and manifestations of dyslexia, dyslexia is not rare and represents 80-90 percent of all those with learning disabilities

  • Children with dyslexia who are not identified or remediated have higher rates of dropout, unemployment, anxiety, and depression

  • A study estimates that approximately  percent of prison inmates have dyslexia.

  • October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

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Decoding Dyslexia DC Statement Regarding Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties in the Black Community

 

  • Because Decoding Dyslexia DC believes the right to read is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time.

  • Because Black students with dyslexia and reading difficulties are disproportionately unidentified or misidentified.

  • Because Black students are consistently given little to no access to appropriate structured literacy approaches by schools.

  • Because, false narratives about Black parents such as lack of involvement, care, or concern are perpetuated, and delay, interfere, and block access to appropriate reading instruction for Black students.

  • Because, Black students not only have to overcome the effects of dyslexia and other reading difficulties but also all forms of racism, including implicit bias, educational bias, institutional bias, and systematic bias. 
     

We pledge to authentically support, raise awareness of, advocate on behalf of, and hold accountable the systems that overlook the needs of Black students.

 

We pledge to be conscious and intentional in our messaging, campaigns, imagery, advocacy, support, and partnerships to ensure that Black students and families are represented.We understand the growth and change we need to make, and we stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

-Adapted from: Decoding Dyslexia BLM Workgroup Statement (6-14-20)

 

See these informative videos from past meetings

 

Jamie Martin, Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist at the New England Assistive Technology Center in Hartford, CT, discusses different types of technology helpful for struggling readers
Watch the video HERE

 

Frances Shefter, Esq., discusses how to secure an effective
IEP for your child
.

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Decoding Dyslexia - Washington, DC Welcomes You

Decoding Dyslexia - DC  is a grassroots movement driven by DC families concerned about the limited access to educational interventions for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties within our schools. We aim to raise awareness and empower families to support their children. We also want to inform policy-makers on best practices for screening, identifying, remediating, and supporting students with dyslexia and reading difficulties in DC.

 

Reading is a fundamental civil right, but the status quo is not working for the vast majority of DC's school children. They should have access to effective reading and spelling instruction, and it's up to all of us to make this happen.

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Raise Dyslexia Awareness

There are so many ways we can raise awareness -- from small steps to giant leaps… Let’s start now!

  Empower Families to Support Children 

Children deserve their civil right to read, and families need to know how to advocate for their children. 

Information is power.

      Inform and Motivate Policy Makers

Our task is to educate policy-makers that it is in everyone's best interest that all students in the District of Columbia read proficiently.  

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Karla Reid-Witt (240) 545-5323

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