Comprehensive Plan for Teaching Reading in Hawai‘i Schools
In the 2013 Legislative Session, SCR 120, SD 2 was adopted unanimously by the Hawai‘i Legislature. In SCR 120, the Legislature asks the Department of Education (DOE), together with the University of Hawai‘i (UH), and Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB), to evaluate recommendations in the Working Group’s Comprehensive Plan for Teaching Reading in Hawaii Schools – in particular with respect to dyslexia awareness, professional development for teachers to support students with dyslexia and other literacy challenges, and licensed literacy specialists – and, the DOE to submit a report to the 2014 Legislature on the status of its efforts to provide these support services.
- Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions regarding regarding SCR 120 and the Comprehensive Plan for Teaching Reading in Hawai‘i Schools.
- Click here to read the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) Literacy Specialist Work Group Report and Approval of Criteria for Licensure.
- Click here for information regarding HTSB approval of Orton-Gillingham certifications for adding teacher license fields.
- Click here to read the DOE’s report to the 2014 State Legislature.
- Click here to read the IDA Hawai‘i Branch letter to the 2014 State Legislature.
- Click here for more information about the new M.Ed. in Special Education Literacy Specialist offered by the University of Hawai‘i Manoa College of Education, Special Education.
The IDA Hawai‘i Branch is sincerely grateful for these efforts and believe that, collectively, they are a great step forward in improving reading instruction in public schools, especially for children with dyslexia and other struggling readers. We have asked the State Legislature to continue to monitor progress made by the DOE, UH, and HTSB, and to use their influence as appropriate, on this important matter. We understand they all have many matters on their plates – but teaching Hawaii’s children to read must be one of the highest priorities – if not the highest priority – for our schools.
IMPORTANT DECISION
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals released (September 2011) a very important decision defining the educational rights of children with dyslexia. Click here to read a summary and download the Court’s 30-page opinion.
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