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Adams 12 proclaims October Dyslexia Awareness Month; district outlines screening and specialized training plans
Summary
Board adopted a proclamation recognizing Dyslexia Awareness Month; district staff described Read Act compliance, DIBELS screening, UFLI intervention training and a local Certified Academic Language Therapy training cohort funded by philanthropic support.
The Adams 12 Board of Education unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month and heard a district briefing on current and planned literacy actions tied to the Read Act and upcoming state screening guidance.
Laura Mitchell, joined by literacy coordinators Bill Penny and Stephanie Frankenfeld, presented district efforts to support students with significant reading deficiencies and characteristics of dyslexia. Staff said kindergarten through third-grade teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches and elementary administrators have completed required Read Act training; 47 new hires have until Aug. 1, 2026 to complete the training and seven staff have approved extensions.
District staff said Adams 12 uses Benchmark Advance as the core K–3 literacy program and uses DIBELS 8 for interim and diagnostic measures. Officials said Colorado requires dyslexia screening beginning in the 2027–28 school year and that CDE will issue guidance in 2026. The district reported participation in the ELAP project to support DIBELS 8 implementation and said it has introduced UFLI Foundations as an optional supplemental resource for small-group intervention; 20 schools opted into related professional learning in August and September, with a second on-ramp planned for second semester.
Bill Penny described a locally funded cohort of staff receiving Certified Academic Language Therapy training (a multi-year, rigorous credential in structured literacy methodologies). The district secured 10 training slots via philanthropic support; the first cohort served about 109 students in intervention groups last year, 81 of whom remained in services through the full year. Penny said seven trainees are learning specialists working with students under Individualized Education Programs and three occupy non‑IEP roles (literacy coach, ELD teacher and in‑building interventionist). The district also piloted an itinerant academic language therapist position to serve clusters of high‑need students.
Board members praised the district’s training and screening plans and voted to adopt the proclamation. Staff urged families and educators to attend a district screening and awareness event, a community screening film showing on Oct. 21 (Left Behind documentary) and a forthcoming Adams 12 parent group meeting to coordinate local supports.
