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DYS adds dyslexia screening, clarifies termination‑of‑pregnancy policy; committee asks for quarterly dyslexia reports
Summary
Division of Youth Services told the committee it will screen juveniles for dyslexia within 30 days and provide follow‑up services; the division also clarified termination‑of‑pregnancy policy that families are decision makers and responsible for payment. Senators successfully moved to require quarterly reporting on dyslexia findings.
Mark Golden, assistant director of the Division of Youth Services, and Marcela Dela Rosa, superintendent of education at DYS, presented rule changes requested to align the DYS operations manual with statutes enacted in 2019.
Dyslexia screening and follow‑up: Dela Rosa told the committee that DYS did not previously have a formal dyslexia policy and that the new rule implements a screening sequence to be completed within 30 days for juveniles who enter DYS facilities; the rule also requires follow‑up services as needed. Senator Allen Clark asked whether DYS could include dyslexia findings in its routine reports; Dela Rosa said DYS is already tracking dyslexia indicators and that early data project a high rate of dyslexia among the population. Senator Clark moved — and the committee seconded and carried the motion — requesting DYS provide quarterly reports on dyslexia screening findings.
Termination‑of‑pregnancy policy clarification: DYS outlined a revised policy that tracks recent legislation and clarifies the agency’s role: families are the decision makers and are responsible for payment; the state agency may be involved in related court proceedings but cannot itself approve or consent to an abortion for a youth in its custody. When asked how many terminations had occurred, Dela Rosa said to her knowledge there had been none during her five years with DYS.
Why it matters: Dyslexia screening inside juvenile facilities could identify learning needs that, if unaddressed, contribute to educational failure and behavioral escalation. The committee’s request for regular reporting creates an explicit oversight mechanism to monitor screening uptake and findings.
Next steps: DYS agreed to include dyslexia screening results in future quarterly reporting to the committee. The committee carried the motion to add dyslexia findings to DYS reports by voice vote.
