Maryland

State Education Agency (SEA) Dyslexia Legislation

Has Legislation?Yes

Parent Opt-Out/Consent Procedures by Law?
No
SEA Recognizes IDA Definition?
Yes
SEA Recognizes State Definition?
No
SEA Has Dyslexia Specialist?
No

Maryland HB278,HB 1264, and SB734

Maryland HB278 and HB 1264 established committees to study dyslexia education in Maryland, and to develop plans of action. SB734 established screening and intervention requirements. The state has recognized the IDA definition of dyslexia in a technical assistance bulletin.

Screening

Required?Yes

Parents Must Be Notified of Results?
Yes
SEA Publishes List of Screeners?
No
Annual Reporting to the SEA?
Yes
Response to Intervention for Student Learning Disability Eligibility in 2010?
Permitted by law
Severe Discrepancy for Student Learning Disability Eligibility in 2010?
Permitted by law
Student Learning Disability Eligibility (Zirkel & Thomas 2010 Classification)?
RTI, SD, and Other permitted

“Beginning in the 2020–2021 school year, each county board shall ensure that a student is screened to identify if the student is at risk for reading difficulties. The screening required under this section may not be included in the time limitation for assessments set forth in §7–203(h) of this article, (2) a screening may be conducted by: (i) a classroom teacher; (ii) a school psychologist; (iii) a special education teacher; (iv) a speech–language pathologist; (v) a reading interventionist; (vi) a designated reading specialist; or (vii) any other educator trained in screening instruments and protocols. (3) On registration of a student at a public school, the 25 county board shall provide to the parent or guardian of the student: (i)a description of the screening and supplemental instruction process in the county; and (ii) any checklists or forms needed to support the screening protocol. (c)(1) a county board shall select one or more appropriate screening instruments that: (i) accurately and reliably identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes; (ii) are developmentally appropriate; (iii) are economical to administer in time and cost; and (iv)use norm–referenced or criterion–based scores. (2) the screening instrument shall be based on foundational reading skills that include phonological and phonemic awareness and processing. 1) students shall be screened according to the schedule of the screening instrument selected established by the county board.”

Pre-service

Required?No

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

In-service

Required?No

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

Intervention

Required?Yes

Evidence-Based?
Required
Explicit/Direct?
Required

If the screening results indicate that a student is at risk of reading difficulties, the county board shall provide supplemental reading instruction to address the student’s identified areas of need; and (iii)(ii) provide a notification letter to the parent or guardian of the student that includes the screening results; and a description of the supplemental reading instruction that will be provided to the student. [Supplemental reading instruction “means evidence–based, sequential, systemic systematic, explicit, and cumulative instruction or intervention to mastery of foundational reading skills including phonological or phonemic awareness and processing, phonics, and vocabulary to support development of decoding, spelling, fluency, and reading comprehension skills to meet grade level curriculum.”]

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

Has Literacy SIMR?No

The Maryland Part B State-identified Measurable Result (SIMR) is to increase the mathematics proficiency of students with disabilities in grades 3-5 in six (6) LSSs.

Resources

Maryland Dyslexia Task Force Report

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland

International Dyslexia Association Maryland

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: 
03/25/2023 - 3:31pm