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Governor Hogan Appoints Decoding Dyslexia MD Members to Task Force to Study a Dyslexia Education Program

9/19/2015

5 Comments

 
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Governor Larry Hogan recently appointed Lisa Blottenberger and Laura Schultz, State Leaders for Decoding Dyslexia, Maryland, to the Dyslexia Education Task Force charged with developing a Dyslexia Education Program and pilot for a Maryland public school district.

The Task Force legislation also designates State Senator Joan Carter Conway; Representative Ann Kaiser; Marcella Franczkowski, the designee of the State Superintendent of Schools; Theresa Milio-Birge, representative from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education; Scott Smith, Superintendent of St. Mary’s public schools, who represents the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland; Robin Szymanski, representative of Maryland State Education Association; Dr. Valerie Wilder, Kent County Schools, representative of Maryland School Psychologists’ Association. 

Governor Hogan also designated Dr. Joan A. Mele-McCarthy, CCC-SLP, Chair of the Task Force. Dr. Mele-McCarthy is the Executive Director of The Summit School in Edgewater. Members also appointed by the Governor include: Mr. Ben Shifrin, Head of Jemicy School; Ms. Marty Sweeney, Head of Odyssey School; Amy Siracusano, Calvert County Public School Teacher; and Lavaunda Roundtree, Educational Support Services, LLC and Anne Arundel County Public School Teacher.

The Task Force requirements are:

 (1) to determine current practices for identifying and treating dyslexia in students in Maryland public schools;

(2) to determine current practices for identifying and treating dyslexia in other states;

(3) to determine the appropriate structure for establishing a dyslexia education program and make recommendations on:

(i) the feasibility of funding a dyslexia education program through the State Department of Education or alternative funding mechanisms and sources or both;

(ii) the methodologies that should be used to test students and identify dyslexia and pre–dyslexia tendencies in students;

(iii) the appropriate age to begin testing for dyslexia and pre–dyslexia tendencies; and

(iv) the best practices for treating and educating students identified as having dyslexia or pre–dyslexia tendencies; and

(4) to develop a pilot program to initiate the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force in an appropriately limited geographical area.

 The Maryland Task Force convened its work on September 17, 2015 – Maryland joins a number of other states including New Jersey, Connecticut and Virginia, working to improve literacy for students who are capable of learning to read and write, but who continue to struggle with these tasks in school.

Members of the public are invited to attend and provide input.  Please contact Carmen Brown at 410-767-7197 or via email at carmen.brown1@maryland.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to register to speak.  Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.  Speakers are encouraged to provide multiple written copies of their comments or any other documents supporting their oral comments.  

Meeting Dates and Times:

September 17, 2015 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m.
September 24, 2015 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m.
October 8, 2015 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m.
October 23, 2015 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m.
November 6, 2015 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Location:              
Center for Technology in Education
6740 Alexander Bell Drive
Columbia Maryland 21045

ABOUT DECODING DYSLEXIA MARYLAND (DD-MD) Decoding Dyslexia Maryland is a grassroots movement of parents, teachers, students and related professionals concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for struggling readers and students with dyslexia in Maryland public schools. DD-MD State Chapters include: Anne Arundel, Central MD, Northern MD, Howard, Southern MD, PG and Montgomery Counties.  www.DecodingDyselxiaMD.weebly.com @dyslexiasomd


5 Comments
Ruth Marriott
9/21/2015 10:00:55 am

It is about time the state educational system on a whole is starting to understand the need to have teachers and other educators learn to deal with Dyslexia, I have volunteered as a tutor for over six years.

Reply
Decoding Dyslexia MD
9/21/2015 10:17:19 am

Thank you for your comment Ruth. These meetings are open to the public and your comment is just the thing MSDE needs to hear. Testimonials on what works will help the Task Force create a better product. Thank you for your work with children.

Reply
Nicole Thomas
9/27/2015 03:16:38 am

This is wonderful news! After years of battling with IEPs and interventions that did not work, I pulled my sons from public school. Homeschool has allowed the emotional damage to be repaired, but it is about time that we take the time too understand how people with dyslexia learn. We have since left the state, but will reconsider moving back if my boys will receive a proper and fair education.

Reply
Sylvia Harris
9/19/2019 12:18:25 pm

How did this polite program work because its 2019 and I'm still struggling with Baltimore City to get help for my7 year old daughter.

Reply
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland link
9/19/2019 04:08:31 pm

Hi Sylvia,

Would you like to learn more about how you can get help in Baltimore City to get your school to address dyslexia? Baltimore City now has a Decoding Dyslexia MD chapter and parents are struggling with the same issues and can help you navigate the system. Please send an email to DecodingDyslexiaMD@gmail.com or join the state Facebook group called Decoding Dyslexia Maryland. Also look for the Decoding Dyslexia Maryland Baltimore City Facebook page to see when they meet. You can also sign up to join DDMD and receive monthly information and support.

In case you haven't seen it, there is a Dyslexia Task Force Report that provides signifiant information on how to address dyslexia in Maryland Public Schools. In addition to the report, there is the Dyslexia Technical Assistance Bulletin that helps parents and schools address dyslexia. There are several blog posts detailing the TAB as well as a ppt summary that is helpful for parents.

LINK: https://www.decodingdyslexiamd.org/uploads/1/7/7/2/17722255/dyslexia_tab_final_2016.pdf

Please reach out and join your local team to get support for you and your daughter.

Reply



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