Paperwork doesn’t teach a child to read. We dig into how to turn dyslexia policy into real progress by aligning instruction with brain science and holding ourselves to clear, measurable outcomes. Our guest, Russell Van Brocklen, is a New York State Senate-funded researcher who overcame severe dyslexia. Russell shares a framework that helps districts meet HB 3928 requirements, avoid legal pitfalls, and, most importantly, move students toward grade-level reading and writing.
We explore what “evidence-based” really means in practice: documented training, fidelity logs, and interventions designed to leverage the dyslexic brain’s strengths. Russell explains why general-to-specific instruction backfires for neurodiverse learners and how flipping the sequence: specific questions first, then broader synthesis, using writing to organize thought. He shows how to build intensity without breaking budgets by anchoring instruction in each student’s specialty, turning deep interest into daily stamina, vocabulary growth, and rapid skill gains.
Data is the heartbeat of this approach. We outline how to monitor progress every four to six weeks with reliable measures, use those checkpoints to adjust instruction, and set a bar that demands gap-closing growth rather than stagnant percentiles. Russell also maps the legal landscape: the cost of delayed screening, the risks that drive private placements, and why “trying something” isn’t enough if impact isn’t documented. Along the way, you’ll hear a parent-led case study of a student jumping from the single digits to the 60th percentiles in months, plus a pragmatic roadmap for training teachers quickly and partnering with families effectively.
If you’re a Texas educator, administrator, or advocate looking to meet the letter of HB 3928 while honoring the science of reading and the lived reality of dyslexic students, this conversation offers a practical playbook you can use tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the one change you’re committing to implement next week!
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Learn more about Russell, his research, and more! -

https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

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Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator