Our Goals
Decoding Dyslexia – NJ is a grassroots movement driven by NJ families concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within our public schools. We aim to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children and inform policy-makers on best practices to identify, remediate and support students with dyslexia in NJ public schools.
We advocate for:
- Expanded and improved access to early screening tests for dyslexia
- Mandatory dyslexia remediation programs, which can be accessed by both general and special education populations
- Access to appropriate “assistive technologies” in the public school setting for students with dyslexia
Goals we have achieved to date:
- A universal definition and understanding of “dyslexia” in the state education code (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3)
- Mandatory teacher training on dyslexia, its warning signs and appropriate intervention strategies (N.J.S. 18A:6-131)
- Mandatory early screening tests for dyslexia (N.J.S. 18A:40-5.1, et seq.)
- Spreading awareness and offering families a variety of opportunities to connect, share experiences, and gain insights and resources:
- A Facebook Page reaching over 8,000 followers
- Parent/educator workshops and events
- Community roundtable discussions
- Parent networking sessions after our monthly business meetings
DD-NJ Advocacy in Action!
DD-NJ with Timothy Lynagh, Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director for Rep Christopher Smith (NJ)
resent
DD-NJ with former US Representative Rush Holt (NJ)

DD-NJ with Brendan Hennessey, Legislative Assistant for Representative Frank Pallone (NJ)
NCTQ: "The three worst schools for effective reading instruction are Kean, St. Peter’s, and Stockton University. The three best are Rutgers-New Brunswick, Seton Hall, and College of New Jersey. Yet, “none of the 10 educator preparation programs in New Jersey that NCTQ reviewed in the 2023 Teacher Prep Review provide aspiring teachers with adequate coursework in the science of reading.”
njedreport.com
The NJ analysis concludes, "NJ is missing an opportunity to use a readily available tool to tackle alarmingly high rates of illiteracy."
"The secret to spelling is understanding the “how” and “why” of language. Most words have patterns based on the sounds they make." ~ Dev Shah, ninth-grader and winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
Opinion | I won the National Spelling Bee. This is what it takes to master spelling.
wapo.st
No, I didn’t memorize the entire dictionary. The spelling bee demands much more than that.
For decades, thousands of schools have determined whether children have a learning disability using a method that researchers have deemed scientifically unsound and discriminatory: "the scientific consensus against the discrepancy model has grown." Kids do not get the reading instruction they need early enough, and sometimes not at all. #dyslexia #whatsinyourdistsrict
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-flawed-dyslexia-screen-leaves-thousands-of-kids-without-help...
A Flawed Way of Diagnosing Dyslexia Leaves Thousands of Kids without Help
www.scientificamerican.com
Changing how dyslexia is diagnosed could help many more children learn to read
"More than half of states use a weak licensure test that fails to accurately signal whether teachers understand reading instruction." New Jersey is one of them.
National Council on Teacher Quality
www.nctq.org/publications/False-Assurances:-Many-states-licensure-tests-dont-signal-whether-eleme...
www.nctq.org
Putman, H. (2023). False assurances: Many states' licensure tests don't signal whether elementary teachers understand reading instruction. Washington, DC: National Council on Teacher Quality
ATTN NJ Families and Educators: Share this new research brief with your local librarians "Engaging Communities in Equity-Centered Research: Librarians as Partners in the Science of Reading" ![]()
It presents a great opportunity to encourage your librarians to learn about the Science of Reading in order to inform their youth services. Download at fcrr.org/sites/g/files/upcbnu2836/files/media/PDFs/village/briefs/BNB%20Research%20Brief.pdf![]()
If you have a library interested to dive deeper into the SoR, let us know if you need help finding them resources to get started!
Sharing again -- this study is ongoing through the spring so do your part for science 😉 ! ATTN Individuals with Dyslexia - Ages 18-35: Rutgers University Newark is conducting a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Study looking at the Brain Basis of Reading. PAID Volunteers are needed. Visit [rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_6PEyKQHMVwBTg8K…](t.co/hpD6uoWo2s) to see if you are eligible. TY!
Attention educators in Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren Counties, please click here for your opportunity for RAPID training for literacy knowledge and best practices from the New Jersey Department of Education.
ATTN NJ Families! Don't miss next week's free online workshop on NJ Tiered Systems of Supports - Early Reading. On Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 7 - 8 PM EDT, SPAN will present a webinar titled, "Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Discussing Early Reading."![]()
This important webinar will highlight the key predictive reading skills for students in kindergarten through grade 3 and will share ways to effectively communicate with teachers around your child's early reading skills development.![]()
Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Discussing Early Reading
Thursday, November 2, 2023; 7 - 8 PM EDT![]()
REGISTER NOW: spanadvocacy-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdeqtrTopHdI3e1rg7-jvhpktQ-J12OpB#/registration![]()
Also, help us spread the word... families will benefit from the information presented!
Timeline photosFree virtual event for educators and parents! Join us on Tuesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. ET for the 2023 Fall Community Lecture with featured speaker Amy Margolis, PhD, presenting "Psychological Components of Reading Disabilities: Novel Interventions to Address Anxiety and Executive Functioning".![]()
Registration is required: bit.ly/453eXpH
Check us out on Instagram!