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Beatrice schools report gains for students in dyslexia interventions, district says
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Nielsen told the Board of Education that 214 of 216 students placed on reading-improvement plans showed gains in 2023–24; the district described screening, referrals and next steps under the Dyslexia Reading Improvement Act.
Superintendent Dr. Nielsen told the Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education on July 8 that the district is reporting measurable improvements for students placed on reading-improvement plans under the Dyslexia Reading Improvement Act.
Dr. Nielsen said 179 students were evaluated for a specific learning disability in reading during 2023–24 and 84 were found eligible for special education services for that disability. For students who did not qualify for special education but were identified through universal screening, 216 were placed on Reading Improvement Act plans in the fall and 214 of those students showed improvement by the later reporting period.
"214 of the 216 students saw improvement from the fall," Dr. Nielsen said, adding that some students showed major gains while others improved modestly. She said school psychologists conduct assessments to determine eligibility for special education and that the district uses MAP Reading Fluency and other benchmark assessments to identify students who have not met reading benchmarks.
The superintendent described the reading-improvement plan as a targeted intervention that outlines steps to help a child "get back on track," and invited board questions. The board did not take formal action on the update; the report was given during the information portion of the meeting.
Why it matters: The Dyslexia Reading Improvement Act requires districts to report and to provide updates on reading interventions. The board's report indicates near-universal improvement among students who received documented interventions in the reported cohort, though Dr. Nielsen did not present student-level data or analyses in the meeting record.
Next steps: Dr. Nielsen said the district will continue to monitor students and refine supports for those who need additional assistance. Board members had no votes associated with the update; follow-up data or program changes would be brought to a future meeting if needed.
