Empowering Young Minds: How A Baton Rouge School is Transforming Dyslexia Education
Louisiana Key Academy (LKA), a Baton Rouge charter school specializing in dyslexia education (also known as structured literacy), is setting a new standard in empowering teachers to help students thrive. With a focus on specialized training, structured lesson plans, and advanced tools, LKA provides its staff with essential resources to effectively address the unique needs of dyslexic learners.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects one’s ability to read and write. Dyslexia is considered a lifelong condition and its symptoms can vary. According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, “Dyslexic children and adults struggle to read fluently, spell words correctly and learn a second language, among other challenges. But these difficulties have no connection to their overall intelligence.”
LKA requires every teacher to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), an intensive training program focused on teaching language skills to students with special needs. “It is an intensive program,” says Olivia Leduff, fourth-grade language arts and social studies at LKA. “I don’t think people realize that there aren’t a lot of CALT instructors in Louisiana.”
LKA’s curriculum and classroom structure is tailored to maximize success in people with dyslexia. Lessons emphasize phonological awareness, basic language skills, and spelling rules, and include literature-based themes to keep the curriculum engaging. Each lesson plan is structured in 90-minute blocks with low teacher-to-student ratios, so students receive individualized help and extra time to revisit challenging concepts. LKA also equips classrooms with smart boards and “assistive read-aloud programs,” essential for students struggling with reading and writing.
“In college, they did not explicitly teach about dyslexia for educators,” Leduff explains. “The opportunity [LKA] gave me has made me grow so much as a teacher. Everybody here is working toward a common goal, teaching the one in five.” As the mother of a student with dyslexia, Leduff’s passion for LKA goes beyond employment. Leduff explained how her daughter “thrived” in fluency and reading after attending LKA for third, fourth, and fifth grades.
LKA’s success is evident with its acquisition of a new building this year off Autoplex Drive and the addition of 10th grade. The school hopes to celebrate its first graduating class in 2027.