Fort Worth is tackling its literacy crisis through the Literacy Roundup initiative, a citywide effort to screen children for dyslexia and other reading difficulties. The program, now in its second year, aims to identify and support students who may be struggling with reading.

Literacy Roundup Initiative

Literacy Roundup started as a partnership between the city and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. Last year, about 400 children were screened, and this year, the goal is to screen 1,000 students. The screenings are offered at 13 community centers and four locations of Freedom Schools, a free summer program for low-income families.

According to a Fort Worth Education Partnership analysis, only 47% of students in Fort Worth read proficiently. The proficiency rates vary across the 12 school districts that serve Fort Worth, ranging from 63% in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD to 27% in Lake Worth ISD. About 40% of Fort Worth ISD students read proficiently.

Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects an individual’s ability to read and process written language. According to state records, 17,756 dyslexic students are enrolled in districts serving Fort Worth, which is about 7.5% of the total student population. However, researchers estimate that between 5 and 12% of children have dyslexia, indicating that many may go undiagnosed.

The Literacy Roundup initiative uses a kindergarten test to assess students’ pronunciation of letters and phonemic segmentation. This test helps identify students who may be at risk for dyslexia and require different teaching methods.

Marley Kerr, a Literacy Roundup intern, knows firsthand the struggles of undiagnosed dyslexia. She grew up feeling like she was swimming through honey while her peers were swimming through water. With the help of her teachers and family, Kerr received extra support and is now working on a double major in psychology and child development at Oklahoma State University.

Kerr’s message to Literacy Roundup students is one of hope and encouragement. ‘You’re not doing something wrong,’ she says. ‘The systems in place haven’t supported you. But you can get that support. You can learn how to read, and you’re so capable.’

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.