Delaware

State Education Agency (SEA) Dyslexia Legislation

Has Legislation?Yes

Parent Opt-Out/Consent Procedures by Law?

SEA Recognizes IDA Definition?

SEA Recognizes State Definition?

SEA Has Dyslexia Specialist?

Delaware Chapter 300 / Senate Bill 229/ Administrative Code Title 14

SB 229 allows that students with severe dyslexia can waive the state assessment. This bill amends Chapter 1, Title 14 of the Delaware Code such that it is implied that dyslexia is a specific learning disability. (See also: Children with Disabilities Subpart A ). The bill states, "With respect to any child with a disability who is not beginning to read by age seven, each IEP prepared for such student until that student is beginning to read shall (a) enumerate the specific, evidence-based interventions that are being provided to that student to address the student’s inability to read, and (b) provide for evidence-based interventions through extended year services during the summer absent a specific explanation in the IEP as to why such services are inappropriate."

Administrative Code Title 14: 900 states: “Specific Learning Disability” means a disorder in one (1) or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific Learning Disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, or mental retardation.

Screening

Required?Yes

Parents Must Be Notified of Results?

SEA Publishes List of Screeners?

Yes

Annual Reporting to the SEA?

Response to Intervention for Student Learning Disability Eligibility in 2010?: Required by law

Student Learning Disability Eligibility (Zirkel & Thomas 2010 Classification)?: RTI required for reading and math, SD prohibited for reading and math, with possible exceptions by grade level)

Delaware does not have dyslexia screening legislation per se. However, according to state code: 12.1 Each public agency shall establish and implement procedures to determine whether a child responds to scientific, research-based interventions (RTI) for reading and mathematics.12.1.1 Agencies may also establish and implement procedures to determine whether a child responds to scientific, research-based interventions in oral expression, listening comprehension, and written expression. 12.3 Instructional screening instruments used as part of RTI procedures shall be norm referenced or curriculum based and progress monitoring instruments used as part of RTI procedures shall be curriculum based. 12.6.1 Universal Tier 1 instructional screenings for reading and mathematics at the elementary level shall be conducted at least 3 times each regular school year at routine and fairly spaced intervals. For students at risk of academic failure, the first screening shall be conducted within 2 weeks of the beginning of the regular school year, or within 2 weeks of the child’s entry into school. Tier I instructional screenings for reading and mathematics at the secondary level shall be conducted for students at risk of academic failure at least three (3) times each regular school year at routine and fairly spaced intervals. The first screening shall be conducted with two (2) weeks of the beginning of the regular school year, or within two (2) weeks of the child's entry into school.

Pre-service

Required?No

Delaware does not have pre-service legislation related to dyslexia.

In-service

Required?No

Delaware does not have in-service legislation related to dyslexia.

Intervention

Required?Yes

MTSS/RTI?

Required

Delaware does not explicitly require dyslexia intervention per se. However, state code states that “Children who score at or below the 25th percentile on a norm referenced test or the designated cut point on a curriculum based measure for any instructional screening, shall be provided Tier 2 interventions.” 12.2 Public agencies shall use rubrics approved by DOE to evaluate and select programs of instruction, and Tier 2 and Tier 3, interventions for reading and mathematics. RTI procedures, including the same frequency and intensity of instruction, and small group settings available to all students, shall apply to children with disabilities who already receive special education and related services. RTI procedures shall not be required for students who participate in Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement standards (AA-AAS).12.4.1 IEP teams of children with disabilities may specialize the instruction and method of delivering interventions under RTI procedures.12.4.2 IEP teams may also determine that a child with a disability requires more intensity or frequency of instruction, or smaller group settings than would otherwise be provided under RTI procedures.

12.5 RTI procedures shall include the tiers and types and duration of services and interventions described in 12.6 through 12.10 Tier 1: Core Classroom Instruction: Tier 1 services shall be designed to be delivered in a general education setting, by a general education teacher. Instruction shall be delivered with fidelity as part of a scientifically based core curriculum and matched to student need.

12.6.1 Universal Tier 1 instructional screenings for reading and mathematics at the elementary level shall be conducted at least 3 times each regular school year at routine and fairly spaced intervals. For students at risk of academic failure, the first screening shall be conducted within 2 weeks of the beginning of the regular school year, or within 2 weeks of the child’s entry into school. Tier I instructional screenings for reading and mathematics at the secondary level shall be conducted for students at risk of academic failure at least three (3) times each regular school year at routine and fairly spaced intervals. The first screening shall be conducted with two (2) weeks of the beginning of the regular school year, or within two (2) weeks of the child's entry into school.

12.6.2 Children who score at or below the 25th percentile on a norm referenced test or the designated cut point on curriculum based measure for any instructional screening, shall be provided Tier 2 interventions.

12.6.3 A school based team (such as a literacy team, a leadership team or a grade-level team) shall review the program and progress of any child who does not score at benchmark on any instructional screening, but who does score above the 25th percentile on a norm referenced test or the designated cut point on a curriculum based measure, to assure that the child is receiving differentiated, needs-based instruction. In addition, the team’s review shall include the fidelity of program implementation, pacing and appropriateness of instructional groupings.12.6.3.1The child’s progress toward end of year benchmarks shall be monitored at least once every 2 weeks until progress monitoring consistently demonstrates that the child is on a trajectory to meet end of year benchmarks.12.6.3.2 If, after 6 weeks of progress monitoring, the child is not on a trajectory to meet end of the year benchmarks, the child shall be provided Tier 2 interventions unless the school based team specifically determines that further progress monitoring is required before additional interventions are provided.

12.7 Tier 2: Intervention: Tier 2 interventions shall be designed to be delivered primarily in the general education setting, by a general education teacher, but may be delivered in other or additional settings or by other trained staff as appropriate to the specific intervention. It shall be implemented with fidelity to its scientific research base and matched to student need.12.7.1 Tier 2 intervention shall be in addition to regularly scheduled core instruction in the general education curriculum, and shall be delivered in small group, at a minimum of ninety (90) minutes per week in session periods appropriate to age and development, but not less than two (2) sessions per week. In the case of a student identified in need of intervention in both reading and math, the intervention shall be designed by the instructional support team proportionate to student need, but not less than one hundred twenty (120) minutes per week.12.7.2 Tier 2 interventions shall be delivered for at least 6 school weeks. Progress shall be monitored weekly against established benchmarks.

12.7.3 If, after 6 school weeks of Tier 2 intervention, a child has made no progress toward benchmarks, or has made progress, but is not on a trajectory to meet end-of-year benchmarks, an instructional support team formulated in accordance with 14 DE Admin. Code 923.11.9, shall meet to review the child’s program and progress, to assure that the child is receiving differentiated, needs-based instruction. In addition, the instructional support team’s review shall include fidelity of program implementation, pacing, and appropriateness of instructional groupings. Based on its review, the instructional support team shall determine whether: additional assessments are required; additional changes to instructional or behavioral methods are required; or the child requires Tier 3 intervention.

12.7.4 If, after an additional 6 school weeks of Tier 2 intervention (or up to a total of 12 school weeks of intervention) a child has made no progress toward benchmarks, or has made progress, but is not on a trajectory to meet end-of-year benchmarks, the child shall begin receiving Tier 3 intervention as outlined by the instructional support team.12.8Tier 3: Intervention: Tier 3 interventions shall be designed to be delivered primarily in the general education setting, by a general education teacher and additional staff, but is likely to be delivered in other or additional settings, or by other trained staff as appropriate to the specific intervention. It shall be implemented with fidelity to its scientific research base and matched to the student’s needs.

Literacy State-identified Measurable Result (SIMR) - Part B

Has Literacy SIMR?Yes

Resources

Decoding Dyslexia Delaware

Citations

Zirkel, P. A., & Thomas, L. B. (2010). State laws for RTI: An updated snapshot. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 56-63.

Gearin, B., Turtura, J., Kame’enui, E. J., Nelson, N. J., & Fien, H. (2018). A Multiple Streams Analysis of Recent Changes to State-Level Dyslexia Education Law. Educational Policy, 0895904818807328.

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Last modified:

10/04/2022 - 1:54pm