Screening for Dyslexia

Although 41 states have adopted dyslexia related legislation, with 21 including screening for dyslexia in early elementary school, states lack clear consensus regarding screening requirements, screening tools, and how to use scores to inform decisions. Additionally, balancing sensitivity and specificity in the screening process is values-based and context dependent, making generalizations about best practice complicated. The National Center on
Improving Literacy (NCIL), a U.S. Department of Education funded partnership seeks to improve knowledge of evidence-based approaches in screening, identifying, and supporting students with literacy-related disabilities, including dyslexia. NCIL’s recent white paper and literacy briefs provide guidance to inform dyslexia screening practices in school systems in light of current policy and practices and emerging research.