The State of Ohio is committed to providing literacy supports for students through the ReadOhio Initiative. This state-wide effort involves collaboration among state agencies, community partners, school districts and families to improve language and literacy for all students through the Science of Reading. Hilliard City Schools has embraced this initiative and has a system of assessments and programming in place to provide literacy supports.When your child is struggling to read, in addition to screening for students entering kindergarten, Hilliard City Schools provides supports at all grade levels to help your child become a proficient reader through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
Contact your child’s teacher or the Principal of your child’s building to start the conversation about your concerns about your child’s reading struggles.
Ohio Third Grade Reading Guarantee
The Third Grade Reading Guarantee is a statewide ReadOhio Initiative program designed to identify students from kindergarten through third grade who are reading below grade level and provide them with continued support. To implement this, Hilliard City Schools begins monitoring every student’s reading levels in kindergarten, and a written Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP) is created for any student who is reading below grade level.
Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP)
A Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP) outlines the reading instruction and support for an individual student and is part of the Third Grade Guarantee program. A RIMP may start as early as kindergarten and is updated and used throughout the student’s K-12 academic career until they are reading on grade level. A key part of the RIMP is the requirement for students to receive high-dosage tutoring, which involves additional instruction time.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a particular form of reading and spelling difficulty which may require Special Education services. The Special Education Evaluation Roadmap provides additional guidance on the evaluation process for Special Education services.
Ohio law defines dyslexia as a “specific learning disorder that is neurological in origin and that is characterized by unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities not consistent with the person’s intelligence, motivation, and sensory capabilities, which difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language.”
In addition to your child’s teacher, principal or Special Education Coordinator for your child’s building, another resource for parents to ask questions, raise concerns or seek guidance about Special Education is the district’s Parent Mentor.
External Resources
Dyslexia Resource Guide for Ohio Families – The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center provides family-friendly information and resources on dyslexia. The information is available in several languages.
International Dyslexia Association Central Ohio – The Central Ohio chapter of the International Dyslexia Association is a volunteer organization for educators, researchers, parents, and advocates to support individuals with dyslexia and those who interact with them.
Ohio Department of Education & Workforce – Dyslexia Supports – This ODEW website page lists supports for family and school districts to raise literacy achievement for all students and specifically students with dyslexia.
Reading Rockets – Reading Rockets is a national public media literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Understood.org – Dyslexia Information – Understood is a nonprofit that provides resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive – in school, at work, and throughout life. This website page provides information about dyslexia.
