Dyslexia in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have advice on how to get appropriate support for dyslexia through MCPS? My child is in MS - but dyslexia was not identified until late in ES when we did a Neuropsych that clearly showed dyslexia. He is a bright kid and so used other strategies to hide it, which worked fairly well until the reading and writing expectations became more demanding. Finally last year (5th grade) he was getting good support - until DL when everything fell apart. Now in MS they are really not doing much. He is in an academic literacy class for weak readers but it does not provide the type of decoding and fluency work that kids with language based learning disabilities need. They seem to go around the virtual room reading a story or article - each kid reads about one paragraph per class and then they do comprehension- which my child does not struggle with. How is it that MCPS does not seem to have any teachers who are specifically trained in working with kids with language based learning disabilities? Dyslexia is quite common, but they don’t seem to have resources in place to help kids with dyslexia. Any advice or suggestions? I assume getting a private placement would be very difficult. My child gets good grades - though we end up helping a lot with homework - and dealing with lots of tears and frustration.

[Anonymous]

Does your child have an IEP? You could request a periodic meeting to discuss and identify a different reading class. Most middle schools have several reading programs; there should be at least one geared towards the phonics that would better suit your child. Best would be if there were an Orton-Gillingham class. MCPS has been training teachers in Orton-Gillingham over the past couple years, but more at the elementary level, though some are at MS. Best option is probably to get your child an Orton-Gillingham tutor to work with them several times a week.

[Anonymous]

If your child is on grade level, or above, you will not get any services, or an IEP. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your child have an IEP? You could request a periodic meeting to discuss and identify a different reading class. Most middle schools have several reading programs; there should be at least one geared towards the phonics that would better suit your child. Best would be if there were an Orton-Gillingham class. MCPS has been training teachers in Orton-Gillingham over the past couple years, but more at the elementary level, though some are at MS. Best option is probably to get your child an Orton-Gillingham tutor to work with them several times a week.

Thank you. He does have an IEP and is in all co-taught general education classes. And we do have an outside tutor - but it doesn’t seem to be enough. I am following up with the school - but my impression is that they don’t have anyone with OG training. Just wondering if anyone else has been successful in getting these services. I wish this had been better addressed at the ES level. They were great but it just took a while to
identify the right approach and then DL happened. It seems like the MS does not have the resources to help.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you joined the Decoding Dyslexia MoCo group on Facebook? Those members may have more information to share.

[Anonymous]

OP you may also want to post on the Special Needs board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you may also want to post on the Special Needs board

Thank you, I will do that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have advice on how to get appropriate support for dyslexia through MCPS? My child is in MS - but dyslexia was not identified until late in ES when we did a Neuropsych that clearly showed dyslexia. He is a bright kid and so used other strategies to hide it, which worked fairly well until the reading and writing expectations became more demanding. Finally last year (5th grade) he was getting good support - until DL when everything fell apart. Now in MS they are really not doing much. He is in an academic literacy class for weak readers but it does not provide the type of decoding and fluency work that kids with language based learning disabilities need. They seem to go around the virtual room reading a story or article - each kid reads about one paragraph per class and then they do comprehension- which my child does not struggle with. How is it that MCPS does not seem to have any teachers who are specifically trained in working with kids with language based learning disabilities? Dyslexia is quite common, but they don’t seem to have resources in place to help kids with dyslexia. Any advice or suggestions? I assume getting a private placement would be very difficult. My child gets good grades - though we end up helping a lot with homework - and dealing with lots of tears and frustration.

Getting a private placement is going to be EXTREMELY difficult in MCPS. It's best to just spend the $$ you would've put towards lawyers and apply to SN schools. Expect competition to be fierce tho. Yep. you sound exactly like every parent that has a child with a learning difference (aka fed up and incredulous with the public school system). It's just a sorry state that MCPS has gotten away with such a disserve to our kids. That is why many many parents leave for SN schools. Unf, these schools are $$$$$$$$$ and out of reach for many. Schools just shuffle kids forward thinking that "next year" they'll get help. Also unf. many SN schools only go up to 8th grade, so I would apply asap to get as much redmediation as possible. Also, maybe contact ASDEC and get an outside OG tutor.

[Anonymous]

Mcps does very little for dyslexic kids. You need to find a tutor or tutor him yourself. I speak from experience.
Check out asdec, other local dyslexia groups mentioned above.
Good luck

[Anonymous]

I don't think MCPS recognizes "dyslexia" as a thing as there are variations needing very different approaches.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is a failure at dyslexia. They willfully on purpose ignored our child’s disability and our advocacy. It almost ruined my kid. You will definitely need tutors and remediation that the county will not provide. We pulled child for private.

It is long hard process. I second Decoding Dyslexia. They are so nice and helpful. We also did six months of intense Lindamood Bell. Very expensive but before LMB, my child could not read.

Wishing you all the best. Hang in there, you are not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is a failure at dyslexia. They willfully on purpose ignored our child’s disability and our advocacy. It almost ruined my kid. You will definitely need tutors and remediation that the county will not provide. We pulled child for private.

It is long hard process. I second Decoding Dyslexia. They are so nice and helpful. We also did six months of intense Lindamood Bell. Very expensive but before LMB, my child could not read.

Wishing you all the best. Hang in there, you are not alone.

Same story. MCPS failed my child too despite years of our advocacy and insisting something was wrong. She was diagnosed in 5th grade by an outside neuropsychologist when we finally had enough of MCPS lies and BS. We were livid at the absolute failure because the older the child gets, self esteem is destroyed and windows start closing and it is harder to remediate. We now have her in a mainstream rigorous private all girls school. She was not a good fit for a specialized school, too outgoing and sporty. We also hired outside tutors for her. Even though it is so hard at her rigorous school, she is rising to the occasion. She isn’t the best student at her rigorous school but she will tell you herself that she has learned so much more than she learned her entire elementary school career in MCPS. She did LindaMood Bell fir six months and it was a game changer. We are talking major major $$$$ from LMB to private schools to private tutors to keep her afloat. It is criminal what MCPS does to kids with dyslexia and I will be forever bitter. MCPS is the worst in almost every way. We take fewer vacations and do without so we can support her. I also highly recommend Deciding Dyslexia. Wonderful nice helpful and caring. Love the founder. Good luck to you. Sending lots of empathy snd virtual support.

[Anonymous]

I agree with previous posters. MCPS is the worst when it comes to dyslexia. We also fought hard and after years of fighting, we moved to private. The child’s self esteem was badly damaged and was significantly behind. Whike I would’ve loved to have gone through due process. We didn’t have the means. We decided to use that money for the SN school instead. I must say, however, that a state complaint was the only thing that got the bare minimum for my child. But it was not enough and too late. I’d suggest you go that route.

In the end, your child will be better off at a private that understands how he learns, teaches based on his learning style, and helps him rebuild his self-esteem.

This is why I feel in MD we ought have the voucher system. If mcps does not want to properly educate my child then that $$$ can help fund a proper education.

[Anonymous]

Due to the different presentations of dyslexia, mcps doesn't recognize it as thing in and of itself.

You need an iep with very specific goals to address any specific deficiency.

[Anonymous]

Just agreeing with everyone here. Same experience. MCPS is an absolute criminal organization to dyslexics and dyscalculics. They only give teachers a week course in OG - yet now are stealing the language of OG to simply protect their image. You really have little or no option but private tutoring - 3x a week turned the corner for us. We also did a small private - and then voted with or feet. Biggest regret was staying as long as we did - during crucial formative years - in such a place. There are heroes in town: ASDEC, Georgetown University Center for Learning, LindaMood Bell. Good luck!