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Duval Superintendent: Dyslexic Teaching Methods Could Benefit Students Countywide

Lindsey Kilbride

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated Duval's County's GRASP Academy Monday morning.

The public school serves dyslexic children in grades 2-7.

The teachers are trained to use a multisensory approach to teaching. It's more hands-on and visual than a typical classroom.

Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says he wants all K-5 teachers to be trained on this curriculum.

"Really the strategies that work well with dyslexic students, work well with all students, especially those that are below grade level," Vitti said. "So that's how GRASP is not only changing the conversation and support for dyslexic students, but it'll eventually change the way we teach especially for struggling readers countywide."

GRASP Academy located on Justina Road replaced Justina Road Elementary this school year.

Vitti says other districts are struggling to teach dyslexic students, and pending state legislation would fund other districts to replicate GRASP. Fernandina Beach Senator Aaron Bean is sponsoring that bill.

Lindsey Kilbride was WJCT's special projects producer until Aug. 28, 2020. She reported, hosted and produced podcasts like Odd Ball, for which she was honored with a statewide award from the Associated Press, as well as What It's Like. She also produced VOIDCAST, hosted by Void magazine's Matt Shaw, and the ADAPT podcast, hosted by WJCT's Brendan Rivers.