Ten Reasons to Consider a Literacy Evaluation
A literacy evaluation is valuable for assessing a child's literacy skills, identifying potential challenges, and ensuring they receive the necessary support and interventions to become proficient readers and writers.
A parent may need to consider a literacy evaluation for their child for various reasons including:
Early Identification of Learning Difficulties: A literacy evaluation can help identify potential learning difficulties or reading-related challenges in a child at an early stage. Early intervention can be crucial in addressing these issues and providing appropriate support.
Academic Performance: If a child is struggling with reading and writing, it can impact their academic performance. A literacy evaluation can help pinpoint areas of weakness and guide educators in developing strategies to improve the child's literacy skills.
Developmental Milestones: Literacy evaluations can assess whether a child meets age-appropriate literacy milestones. If a child falls behind, it may indicate developmental delays or other issues that need attention.
Speech and Language Concerns: Children with speech and language difficulties may also experience challenges in developing literacy skills. A literacy evaluation can help identify such issues and guide interventions.
Reading Comprehension: Assessing a child's reading comprehension skills is important. Some children may be able to decode words but struggle with understanding and making meaning from the text. A literacy evaluation can provide insights into this aspect of literacy.
Special Education Services: If a child is found to have significant literacy difficulties, a literacy evaluation can be a necessary step in determining eligibility for special education services or accommodations in school.
Dyslexia or Specific Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia is a common learning disability that affects reading and language processing. A literacy evaluation can help diagnose dyslexia or other specific learning disabilities, enabling the child to receive appropriate interventions.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP): For children with disabilities or special needs, a literacy evaluation can be crucial in developing an IEP, which outlines the child's unique learning goals and the support they require. Understanding a child's literacy strengths and weaknesses allows educators and parents to tailor instruction to the child's specific needs.
Parental Concerns: Parents may have concerns about their child's literacy development based on their observations or teacher feedback. A literacy evaluation can provide objective information to address these concerns.
Homeschooling or Alternative Education: If a child is homeschooled or attending an alternative education program, a literacy evaluation can help parents tailor their curriculum and teaching methods to meet the child's needs effectively.
This is part of our literacy evaluation blog series. You can also learn more about the key components of a literacy evaluation, how a literacy evaluation supports your child’s educational needs, and how to use literacy evaluation data to drive student instruction.
This blog series was written by Catherine Scholl, a literacy evaluator and special education advocate with Right to Read Advocacy. Catherine brings a unique and personal perspective to educational advocacy rooted in her extensive experience with Special Education, Individual Education Plans (IEP), and 504 processes. As a parent of two students with disabilities, former special education teacher, literacy evaluator, and educational advocate, she has “worn the hat” of all team members, allowing her to knowledgeably participate in all sides of the process. She serves clients through the state of Connecticut.