La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § XXXV-109

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXXV-109 - Screening Requirements

A. In accordance with LAC 28:CXV. Bulletin 741-Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, all students enrolled in kindergarten through third grade shall be administered a universal early literacy screener three times per school year: within the first 30 days of the school year, in December, and in April. Screening results shall be used to plan instruction and provide appropriate and timely intervention.

B. The early literacy screening instrument shall measure, at minimum, developmentally appropriate skills in:

1. phonological awareness,

2. phonics,

3. decoding,

4. fluency, and

5. comprehension.

C. - C.2. Repealed.

D. A universal early literacy screener score that indicates deficits, below grade level benchmarks, shall result in additional screening to include:

1. Kindergarten and fall semester of first grade students shall be screened in the following areas:

a. phonological awareness including onset and rime, rhyming and syllable manipulation; and

b. rapid automatic naming of colors, objects, and/or numbers.

2. spring semester of first grade through third grade students shall be screened in the following areas:

a. phonological/phonemic awareness including blending, onset and rime, rhyming, syllable manipulation, and phoneme segmentation and manipulation;

b. rapid automatic naming of colors, objects, and/or numbers;

c. encoding skills using spontaneous spelling;

d. oral and written language skills; and

e. letter sound association.

E. Data from screenings should be used to make informed decisions about evidence-based interventions. Progress should be monitored frequently to determine the student's response to the targeted interventions and the rate of improvement. If a student continues to struggle with literacy skills, despite high-quality instruction using a multi-tiered system of supports, the student shall be referred for SBLC review.

F. Screening is not limited to students in kindergarten through third grade and may be administered at any grade level if a student exhibits impediments to a successful school experience or upon request of a teacher, parent, or guardian.

G. A third grade student who does not score above the lowest achievement level on the literacy screener after three attempts and who is promoted to fourth grade for good cause in accordance with LAC 28:XXXIX.701.(Bulletin 1566) shall be screened for dyslexia.

H. The LDOE-selected dyslexia screener shall be administered by a classroom teacher to each student in the second half of kindergarten and to a student at any grade level upon request of a teacher, parent, or legal guardian, in accordance with LAC 28:CXV.1123. (Bulletin 741).

I. The IDEA Child Find mandate requires all school districts to proactively identify, locate, and evaluate all students who are suspected of having a disability. If a school system suspects that a student has a disability based on screening data, the LEA is obligated to evaluate the needs of the student. The use of screening measures and/or tiered interventions may not be used to delay or deny the evaluation of a student suspected of having a disability.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § XXXV-109

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 47724 (6/1/2021), Repromulgated LR 471288 (9/1/2021), Amended LR 50681 (5/1/2024), Amended LR 501154 (8/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:7(11), R.S. 17:24.9, R.S. 17:392.1 and 17:392.3.