Learning to read is a major step for students in elementary school. It can often be difficult for young minds to learn the mechanics and rules of language. However, in some cases, those challenges increase if children have dyslexia.
Sometimes, a child’s struggles with reading are not apparent until they are older – often in third or fourth grade. According to a new report, there is a movement in California to change that.
Dyslexia is quite common
Child Mind Institute reports that roughly one in five children has dyslexia. Many people are aware that a diagnosis of dyslexia often means an individual might struggle with:
- Reading
- Writing and spelling
- Learning new words
Dyslexia has nothing to do with a child’s intelligence. Studies show that the brain simply functions differently when reading or writing. Often, children with dyslexia can qualify for an independent education plan (IEP) to help them.
Could evaluations become easier?
At the moment, children might get screened for dyslexia if their parent or teacher notices them struggling with reading and writing. Then, they might obtain an evaluation – one of the first steps of obtaining an IEP or 504 plan to meet the child’s needs. As mentioned above, this process does not begin for many children until they reach the third grade on average.
However, Gov. Gavin Newsom, members of the State Board of Education and many parents are pushing to establish new rules to have all kindergartners and first graders screened for dyslexia. There are a few reasons for this push for screening:
- It would promote early intervention
- It would make free screening more accessible
- It would make screening more consistent across California
Early intervention can make a big difference for children with learning disabilities. If the state implements these rules, it could help more families obtain early intervention resources that help their children succeed. Families should watch for more updates about the potential new screening process.