<![CDATA[Decoding Dyslexia Maryland - MD Dyslexia Task Force]]>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:55:00 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Breaking the Wait to Fail Reading Model]]>Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:18:42 GMThttp://www.decodingdyslexiamd.org/md-dyslexia-task-force/breaking-the-wait-to-fail-reading-modelIt's been one year since the MD Dyslexia Task Force reported its findings to the Legislature and the Governor on December 31, 2016.  What steps have Maryland policy makers taken to protect students and implement the 7 Task Force recommendations?

The fact that Maryland students are not learning to read on grade level is not in dispute.  Despite research pinpointing the skills required to learn to read and how they should be taught, many students are still struggling to learn to read.  These skills are enumerated in federal laws including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These skills also are enumerated in the Dyslexia Task Force report along with the research that supports the essential components of reading instruction.

Task Force LINKS

Task Force Live Binder Documents
Task Force Report and Recommendations
Task Force Letter]]><![CDATA[Dyslexia Action Alert: Support HB 1264 to Establish a Pilot Program Advisory Board]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:17:00 GMThttp://www.decodingdyslexiamd.org/md-dyslexia-task-force/dyslexia-action-alert-support-hb-1264-to-establish-a-pilot-program-advisory-board****LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT****

Please call, email and/or write your Delegate in Annapolis to support House Bill HB 1264.  A hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 10th before the House Ways & Means Committee.  

  • The Membership of the House Ways & Means Committee is listed below -- if your Delegate is a member click the highlighted link and follow the instructions provided for each bill.  
  • If your Delegate is not a member of the Ways & Means Committee, follow the instructions below to contact your Delegate by phone, email and/or mail.  See below for detailed instructions.

It is critical that parents, students, teachers and community partners attend the hearing and wear red to show visual support for the legislation.

Who is My Legislator?
I Want to Testify -- scroll down for information on testimony
I Want to Attend -- scroll down for information on parking, security and directions
LET US KNOW HOW IT WENT


Summary

HB 1264: Establishes the Dyslexia Pilot Advisory Board: FOR the purpose of establishing the Dyslexia Education Pilot Program Advisory Board in the State Department of Education; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Advisory Board; prohibiting a member of the Advisory Board from receiving certain compensation, but authorizing the reimbursement of certain expenses; requiring the Advisory Board, in consultation with the Department, to identify a principal investigator for the Program; requiring the Advisory Board, in consultation with the Department, to develop a certain Request for Proposals, select certain partners for the Program, and establish a Pilot Program Implementation Team; requiring the Advisory Board, in consultation with certain entities, to establish a process to select local school systems to participate in the Program and establish a Local Education Agency Team; requiring the Advisory Board, in consultation with a Principal Investigator and the Pilot Program Implementation Team, to implement the Program for a certain period of time; requiring the Advisory Board to report its progress to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before a certain date each year; defining certain terms; providing for the termination of this Act; and generally relating to the Dyslexia Education Pilot Program Advisory Board.

​ACTION STEPS for House Bill 1264

HEARING DATE: Friday, March 10, 1:00pm (bills are scheduled anytime between 1pm-5pm or later).

Step One: Find your legislator in Annapolis -- CLICK "WHO IS MY LEGISLATOR" and enter the information requested. 

Step Two: You will see a pop-up box with all your elected officials.  At the bottom, you will see your state Senator and Delegate.  Uncheck the pop-up box for your Senator, then click: Create Message

Step Three: Another pop-up window will open and allow you to enter your information and a brief message of fewer than 1500 characters. Create your message using the talking points below. OR

Step 4:  If you would rather contact your Delegate directly by email, a phone call and/or snail mail, click the Delegate's name to connect to their home page where you will find their email address, phone number and mailing address.

 Talking Points
  1. This legislation would create the Dyslexia and Reading Pilot Advisory Board
  2. It would implement the reading pilot program developed by the “Task Force to Study the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Pilot Program.”
  3. The legislature and the Governor appointed the Task Force members and it included a broad coalition of teachers, parents, school administrators and State Education officials -- it is bipartisan.
  4. The pilot is needed:  60% of Maryland students were reading below grade level in 2016.  We must help kids learn to read.
  5. LINK to Task Force Report and Recommendations - the report can be downloaded and shared with your legislator if they request a copy.

​Please Ask Your Legislator to do the Following: 
  1. IF your legislator is a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee (scroll down for list), please ask that they vote yes in committee on Friday, March 10, 2017.  Members of the W&M committee voted yes to create the original Dyslexia Task Force -- this is the next step in the process to create a dyslexia pilot program.

  2. Ask that your legislator cosponsor the bill

  3. If they are NOT a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, Ask Your Delegate to Vote YES on the bill when it comes to the House Floor and send a letter or email offering support for the bill.


Hearing Location

House Ways and Means Committee Room 131, Lowe House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 LINK to MAP


Parking Options

Gott's Garage 
Navy-Marine Corps Stadium -- parking is $5 all day and the shuttle to College Avenue/Lawyer's Mall is $4 round trip, exact change required.  Please allow at least 30 minutes to catch the shuttle and transit to your destination.  The bus drops you off at the back of the House Office Building.  Cross the street to Bladen Street/Rowe Blvd (Rt. 50) and walk about 1/2 block to the entrance to the office building on the right. 

Security
​
  • Enter the row of doors near the flagpole on Bladen Street/Rowe Boulevard
  • Have your identification ready
  • Be prepared to go through a screening process -- metal on boots, belts, etc. will set off the metal detector
  • Depending on the number of visitors, there could be a line to gain entrance so give yourself at least 20 minutes to go through security.
  • Once inside, security can direct you to the Ways & Means Committee -- there also is an information desk in the central lobby area.

House of Delegates Ways & Means Committee Membership
House Ways and Means Committee, Room 131
Lowe House Office Building
6 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Parking: Gott's Garage or Navy-Marine Corps Stadium

Montgomery County
Eric Luedtke  Dis. 14 eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us (410 841 3110)  
Anne Kaiser Dis. 14 anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us (410 841 3036) 
Jheanelle Wilkins Dis. 20 jheanelle.wilkins@house.state.md.us  (410 841 3493)  

Baltimore County
Eric Ebersole Dis 12 eric.ebersole@house.state.md.us (410 841-3328)
Robert B. Long  Dis 6  bob.long@house.state.md.us ((410 841 3458) 

Howard County
Eric Ebersole Dis 12 eric.ebersole@house.state.md.us (410 841-3328)
Frank S. Turner Dis. 13  frank.turner@house.state.md.us (410 841 3246)

Prince George's County
James Tarlau Dis. 47A jimmy.tarlau@house.state.md.us (410 841 3326)
Jay Walker Dis.26 jay.walker@house.state.md.us (410 841 3581)
Darryl Barnes Dis.25 Darryl.barnes@house.state.md.us (410 841 3557)
Carolyn B. Howard Dis.24 Carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us (410 841 3919)
Alonzo Washington Dis.22 Alonzo.washington@house.state.md.us (410 841 3652)

Carroll County
April Rose Dist. 5 april.rose@house.state.md.us (410 841 3070)
Kathryn Afzali Dis.4 Kathy.afzali@house.state.md.us ((410 841 3288)
Haven Shoemaker,Jr. Dis 5  haven.shoemaker@house.state.md.us (410 841 3359) 

Frederick County
Kathryn Afzali Dist.4 Kathy.afzali@house.state.md.us ((410 841 3288)

Baltimore City
Mary Washington Dis.43 mary.washington@house.state.md.us (410 841 3476)
Bilal Ali Dis.41  bilal.ali@house.state.md.us  ( 410 841 3268)
Nick Mosby Dis.40 nick.mosby@house.state.md.us (410 841 3520)

Cecil County 
Kevin Hornberger Dis. 35A  kevin.hornberger@house.state.md.us (410 841 3284)  
Teresa E. Reilly Dis. 35B Teresa.reilly@house.state.md.us ( 410 841 3278) 
Del Reilly also Harford County

Charles County
Edith J. Patterson Ed.D  Dis .28 ( edith.patterson@house.state.md.us (410 841 3247)

Anne Arundel County 
Meagan C. Simonaire Dis 31B Meagan.simonaire@house.state.md.us(410 841 3206)
​
Allegany County
Delegate Jason C. Buckel Dis. 1B  Jason.buckel@house.state.md.us (410 841 3404)]]><![CDATA[Maryland Dyslexia Task Force Releases Report to Governor Hogan & the Legislature]]>Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:14:45 GMThttp://www.decodingdyslexiamd.org/md-dyslexia-task-force/maryland-dyslexia-task-force-releases-report-to-governor-hogan-the-legislature
Picture
Downloadable Task Force Report (154 pages)
task_force_report_final.pdf
File Size: 3666 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
final_report_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 44 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
The Dyslexia Task Force Report, officially titled: "Final Report of the Task Force to Study the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program" was finalized and sent to the Governor and Legislature on December 31, 2016.

After many months of meetings and deliberations, including testimonies from the public, the Task Force report was released in its final form.

Included in the report are the following:
  1. Executive Summary of Recommendations
  2. Current Practices on Dyslexia in Maryland
  3. Current Practices for Dyslexia in other States
  4. Best Practices for Dyslexia/Reading
  5. Identification of Dyslexia and Pre-Dyslexia Tendencies in Students: Methodologies & Age of Identification
  6. Pilot Program: How to Set up and Implement a Dyslexia Pilot Program in a District, School and Classrom
  7. Pilot Program Funding (budgetary considerations and funding sources)
  8. References
]]><![CDATA[MD Dyslexia Task Force Information]]>Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:39:20 GMThttp://www.decodingdyslexiamd.org/md-dyslexia-task-force/md-dyslexia-task-force-informationThe MD Dyslexia Task Force reported its findings to the Legislature and the Governor on December 31, 2016.

Task Force LINKS

Task Force Live Binder Documents
Task Force Report and Recommendations
Task Force Letter

]]>