Organization: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
This letter was written for educators across the United States in 2015 from the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary of education. The purpose of the letter was to clarify that nothing in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act prohibits the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in evaluations, eligibility determinations, or individualized education plan documents. The letter addresses the need for schools to screen students and conduct an evaluation under the education laws. The letter states that educators should use a multitiered instructional framework; identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes, including those who may have dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia; monitor their progress; provide evidence-based interventions; and adjust the intensity and nature of those interventions depending on a student’s responsiveness. The letter clarifies misconceptions schools have about disabilities like dyslexia.
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/guidance-on-dyslexia-10-2015.pdf