Universal screening, referred to as a tier 1 dyslexia screening measure in Ohio’s dyslexia support laws (ORC 3323.251), identifies the students whose current level of skills indicate they may be at risk of reading difficulties such as dyslexia.

NOTE: There are no exceptions or exemptions in the dyslexia support laws. All students in the specified grade bands must receive the universal screener and any subsequent follow up that is required based on the screener results.
 
As stated on page 46 of Ohio’s Dyslexia Guidebook, assessing children with complex communication needs, as well as those with visual impairments, may require adaptations to standardized procedures. If the assessment you are using does not offer instructions for how to adapt the assessment protocol to serve diverse learners, assistive technologies may be used to meet individual access needs.

The document "Administering Literacy Assessment for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs" (January 2024 version) provides resources and recommendations for accommodations and scaffolds districts may use when administering district wide literacy screenings and benchmarks or reading diagnostics. These can be used when administering the required tier 1 dyslexia screener, as well as the reading diagnostic required under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee and other district assessments. The purpose of these is to ensure these assessments provide proper data related to the reading abilities of students with complex communication need and low incidence disabilities.

The following additional resources may be used to learn more about these adaptations:

• OCALI and the Assistive Technology & Accessible Educational Materials Center provide information and resources for assessing and instructing students with complex communication needs.
• The Teaching Diverse Learners Center at OCALI offers a free, 10-part video series exploring strategies designed to provide access to the general education curriculum for all learners.
• The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness provides resources to support literacy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children.

Students identified as at risk must be progress-monitored for up to 6 weeks and an intervention-based diagnostic (tier 2) screener must be administered to students who continue to exhibit risk for dyslexia.
Note that in lieu of the progress-monitoring period, an intervention-based diagnostic (tier 2) screener can also be administered immediately to any student who received a universal (tier 1) screener.

Districts and schools must use a universal (tier 1) screener from this approved list. There is no approved list of tier 2 screeners but districts and schools can refer to Section 2 and Appendix B of Ohio's Dyslexia Guidebook for guidance in making their selection.

The "Literacy Assessment Selection Tool K-6" is a useful tool for schools and districts looking to identify and choose their tier 1 and tier 2 dyslexia screeners. It describes the different skills that each screener should identify.

Screening Timelines for the 2023-24 School Year

Kindergarten students: Universal (tier 1) screening must occur between the first day of January of their kindergarten year and prior to the first day of January of the following school year.
Grades 1-3: There is no specified time window for students in these grades but must occur within the 2023-24 school year.
Grades 4-6: Upon parent request or teacher request with parent permission.
Transfer kindergarten students: During the school's regularly scheduled screening of the kindergarten class or within 30 days after the student's enrollment if the screening already has been completed, or within thirty days after the student's parent, guardian, or custodian requests the screening or grants permission for a screening.
Transfer students in grades 1-3: Within 30 days after the student's enrollment for those who transfer midyear, or within thirty days after the student's parent requests the screening or grants permission for the screening.
Transfer students in grades 4-6: Within 30 days of the student's parent requests the screening or grants permission for the screening.
Note: A district or school is not required to administer a tier one dyslexia screening measure to a student in grades K-6 who transfers into the district or school midyear if the student’s records indicate a screening was administered to the student by the district or school from which the student transferred during that year.

Kindergarten students: Universal (tier 1) screening must occur between the first day of January of their kindergarten year and prior to the first day of January of the following school year.
Grades 1-6: Upon parent request or teacher request with parent permission.
Transfer kindergarten students: During the school's regularly scheduled screening of the kindergarten class or within 30 days after the student's enrollment if the screening already has been completed, or within thirty days after the student's parent requests the screening or grants permission for a screening.
Transfer students in grades 1-6: Within 30 days of the student's parent requests the screening or grants permission for the screening.
Note: A district or school is not required to administer a tier one dyslexia screening measure to a student in grades K-6 who transfers into the district or school midyear if the student’s records indicate a screening was administered to the student by the district or school from which the student transferred during that year.