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Please see important SLD information and updates below. 

*Included in the updates below is information regarding the position posting for the SLD consultant within the Exceptional Children Division at DPI.  Lynne Loeser, our current consultant and my esteemed colleague will be retiring at the end of this month after an extensive career in public education.  Lynne's stellar leadership and efforts on behalf of students with SLDs have blazed trails for our state that are beyond measure.  She has left a solid foundation from which to work for her successor.  Please see the posting at the end of this update for further information.

At a Loss for Words: What's wrong with how schools teach reading? Podcast: Educate

There is a theory about how people read words -- one that's deeply embedded in teaching practices and curriculum materials widely used in elementary school classrooms. Although the idea has been disproved by cognitive scientists, it continues to be included in teacher preparation programs, promoted in professional development sessions, and marketed by publishers.

Dyslexia

This summer, eight additional Reading Research to Classroom Practice Instructors completed a two day institute on dyslexia and are now qualified to provide Deep Dive into Dyslexia:  The Science of Reading and Expert Teaching.  This map shows where these 86 Dyslexia Delegates are located.

Day of Dyslexia

The NC branch of the International Dyslexia Association is excited about the upcoming Day of Dyslexia on Saturday October 12th from 9 am to noon.  The event will be held live at The Hill Learning Center in Durham and can be attended virtually.  This is a free event!  Find out more and register here.

Resources from the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII)

The NCII has released an update to the Academic Screening Tools Chart.  A number of new assessments were added. The tools on the academic screening tools chart can be used to identify students at risk for poor academic outcomes, including students who require intensive intervention. Check it out and discover the changes here.  

The Academic Progress Monitoring Tools Chart, is comprised of evidence-based progress monitoring tools that can be used to assess students’ academic performance, to quantify a student rate of improvement or responsiveness to instruction, and to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. The chart displays ratings on technical rigor of performance level standards (reliability and validity) and growth standards (sensitivity, alternate forms, and decision rules) and provides information on the whether a bias analysis was conducted, and key usability features. The chart is intended to assist educators and families in becoming informed consumers who can select academic progress monitoring tools that address their specific needs. The presence of a particular tool on the chart does not constitute endorsement and should not be viewed as a recommendation from either the TRC on Academic Progress Monitoring or NCII.

RtI/MTSS Best Practices Conference

The RtI/MTSS Best Practices Conference will again be held at Wrightsville Beach October 28-29th.  This year's featured speaker is Dr. Amanda Vanderheyden.  Find out more about the conference here https://www.rtibpinstitute.com/.

Consultant for Specific Learning Disabilities and ADHD Position Posted

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is seeking applicants for an Education Program Consultant II (Working Title: Consultant for Specific Learning Disability and Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) for our Supporting Teaching and Related Services Section within the Exceptional Children Division.   

If you know of someone who would be an excellent candidate for this position in the Exceptional Children Division, please encourage them to go to the NCDPI Jobs site athttps://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolinato review the job posting and apply.  

I have had the great honor to serve public schools for the past 7 1/2 years as the statewide consultant for Specific Learning Disabilities and ADHD at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.   After considerable thought and reflection, I have made the decision to retire from NC Public Schools.  However, I will continue to serve and support public schools and educators, as well as students and families of those with learning differences.  Personal correspondence after my separation from the NC Department of Public Instruction can be sent to lynne.loeser@gmail.com.  You can also follow me on Twitter @lynne_loeser.