Our Work in the Field: Maryland

NCIL staff and expert coaches are working with several state education agencies and the local education agencies they identify to provide intensive technical assistance.

Our work with Maryland State Department of Education, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, and Decoding Dyslexia Maryland focuses on universal screening to identify students at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

Our Goals

Build state and local school district capacity related to knowledge and implementation of a universal screening process for reading and dyslexia risk, including technical adequacy evidence, administration of measures, and data-based decision making for a multi-tiered system of support for reading.
Provide support to Maryland State Department of Education and local school districts to implement state legislation and related recommendations by the Task Force to Implement a Dyslexia Education Program for students with reading difficulties, including dyslexia beginning in 2019-2020.

Technical Assistance

Training on the technical adequacy and decisions that can be made from universal screening measures for dyslexia and early reading skill (in progress).

Training on administration of district-adopted universal screening measures for grades PreK-2 and procedures for data-based decision making across the year (in progress).

About Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

Under the leadership of the State Superintendent of Schools and guidance from the Maryland State Board of Education, MSDE develops and implements standards and policy for education programs from pre-kindergarten through high school.

Meet the MSDE Team

Marcella Franczkowski
Assistant State Superintendent, Maryland State Department of Education

Carmen Brown
Branch Chief, Interagency and Collaboration Branch Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services Maryland State Department of Education

Jennifer Ralston
English Language Arts Specialist, Maryland State Department of Education

About St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS)

SMCPS is a suburban and rural school district in St. Mary’s County in southern Maryland that serves 18,067 students.

Meet the SMCPS Team

J. Scott Smith, Ph.D.
Superintendent, St. Mary’s County Public Schools

Cortney Dvorak
Supervisor of Elementary English/Language Arts and Reading Instruction: Grades K-5, St. Mary’s County Public Schools

About Decoding Dyslexia Maryland (DDMD)

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland is a parent-led, grassroots movement driven by families concerned about reading instruction and interventions for all students, including those with dyslexia, in Maryland Public Schools.