The Indiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and Decoding Dyslexia-Indiana’s Position Statement on Reading Instruction: 

 

As teachers, administrators and parents of dyslexic students, The Indiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and Decoding Dyslexia-Indiana issues this statement concerning teachers who teach reading in the state of Indiana.

 

According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity and the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 5 students are dyslexic. The International Dyslexia Association asserts that reading difficulty is the most common reason for academic failure. With REPA III, we believe that Indiana has an opportunity to merge what research tells us is essential for effective reading instruction with what is required of the teachers we trust with Indiana’s future.

 

Because early identification is key, we support the inclusion of language in REPA III that requires teachers in Indiana to be trained in the science of how to teach reading, recognizing indicators of reading difficulty, and the use of evidence-based reading instruction in systematic, explicit, multi-sensory phonics.

 

Specifically, we request that language in the pedagogy of reading instruction is aligned with the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading is included in REPA III. A thorough understanding of how the brain processes, acquires, and comprehends language; recognition of the myriad of signs that a student is struggling with basic literacy skills; and a working knowledge of how to support these students are critical components of teacher preparation. We also ask that testing for teacher licensure reflects these standards and that a teacher candidate shows mastery prior to licensure.

 

Additionally, we request that language is included in REPA III that requires professionals seeking an initial license in Indiana to receive training in how students with dyslexia may present in a general education classroom and which compensatory strategies may be necessary for helping a dyslexic learner achieve academic success.

 

To ensure the teachers in Indiana have access to quality training programs in the science of reading and in understanding dyslexia, we ask that this training is through a certified body recognized by the International Dyslexia Association.

 

Thank you for your consideration on this very important issue, the preparation of the professionals who teach reading in Indiana schools. To learn more about the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading that many states are using to develop their teacher preparation programs, visit our national website at IDA.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Indiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, Board of Directors
and Decoding Dyslexia–Indiana