More Than Service Minutes: How Individualized SDI Drove Measurable Reading Progress

See how individualized specially designed instruction (SDI) helped a California student improve sight-word mastery from 60% to 92%, reach 100% on grade-level reading passages, and build confidence as a reader.

For students receiving specially designed instruction (SDI), delivering required service minutes is only part of the equation. The real measure of effective special education support is whether students are making meaningful progress toward their individual goals.

At a California charter school, Parallel Education Specialist Robin Porter has provided individualized virtual SDI since 2024. Her continued partnership with the school has created consistency for students while giving Robin the opportunity to build instruction around each student's individual strengths, goals, and needs.

For one student, that individualized approach translated into measurable reading growth — and growing confidence along the way.

Student Progress at a Glance

Sight-Word Mastery: 60% → 92%

From October 2025 to March 2026, the student's mastery of grade-level sight words increased by 32 percentage points.

• October: 60%
• December: 75%
• February: 83%
• March: 92%

Grade-Level Reading Passages: 82% → 100%

The student's performance on grade-level reading passages also showed significant progress:

• December: 82%
• January: 90%
• February: 100%
• March: 96%

Continuity of Special Education Support

Robin returned to support the school for a second consecutive year, allowing her to maintain relationships with students and provide greater continuity of instruction. As the school's partnership with Parallel continued, Robin's support also expanded to include more individualized, 1:1 instruction.

The Need: Building Foundational Reading Skills and Confidence

At the start of the school year, the student was still developing foundational reading skills and lacked confidence in their abilities.

In October 2025, the student demonstrated 60% mastery of grade-level sight words.

But the data only told part of the story.

Robin saw an opportunity not only to strengthen the student's reading skills, but also to help the student develop confidence in their ability to read.

The goal wasn't simply to complete special education service minutes. It was to understand what motivated the student, identify existing strengths, and use individualized instruction to help move the student forward.

The Support: Individualized Specially Designed Instruction

Effective specially designed instruction starts with the individual student.

Robin identified the student's existing reading strengths and used them as a foundation for instruction. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, she incorporated strategies designed to keep the student engaged while targeting specific areas for growth.

Reading games and interactive activities turned skill practice into something the student could look forward to each week. Vocabulary development became another consistent focus, with new words introduced and reinforced throughout their work together.

As the student experienced success, Robin made a point to celebrate those milestones and encourage them to take on new challenges.

Skill-building, engagement, and confidence worked together — not in isolation.

That individualized approach is at the heart of SDI: adapting instruction to address a student's unique needs and support progress toward their goals.

The Outcome: Measurable Reading Progress

Over five months, the student's sight-word mastery increased from 60% to 92% — a 32-percentage-point gain.

Progress was consistent throughout the school year:

60% in October → 75% in December → 83% in February → 92% in March.

The student's grade-level reading passage scores showed similar improvement, increasing from 82% in December to 90% in January and 100% in February, followed by 96% in March.

But some of the most meaningful progress couldn't be captured by a percentage alone.

As the student's reading skills grew, so did their confidence. They became more willing to attempt unfamiliar words, take risks during instruction, and see themselves as a capable reader.

From 60% to 92% sight-word mastery.

100% on grade-level reading passages.

And a student more confident in their ability to read.

That's what progress can look like when specially designed instruction is built around the individual student.

The Special Education Teacher Behind the Progress

Robin Porter | Education Specialist

19 years in education
Special Education • Virtual Instruction • Music Education

Robin brings nearly two decades of experience in education to her work with Parallel students. Her approach combines individualized instruction, relationship-building, and creative engagement strategies to meet students where they are and help them build from there.

Since beginning her work with this California charter school in 2024, Robin has developed long-term relationships with many of the same students.

That continuity matters.

Returning for a second year gave Robin the opportunity to build on established relationships, better understand her students' learning styles, and continue adapting instruction as their needs evolved. Her support has since expanded, including a shift toward more individualized 1:1 instruction.

For Robin, meaningful student progress isn't just reflected in an assessment score. It's also visible when a student becomes more willing to participate, tackle something difficult, and believe they can succeed.

Moving Beyond Special Education Service Minutes

For special education leaders, ensuring that students receive the services outlined in their IEPs is essential. But service delivery is only the starting point.

The bigger question is: Are those services helping students make meaningful progress?

Strong SDI requires more than filling a schedule. It requires qualified special education teachers who can individualize instruction, build relationships with students, monitor progress, and adjust their approach based on what the data — and the student — are telling them.

When districts and schools have the right special education support in place, service minutes can become something more: an opportunity to create measurable growth for students.

What could the right SDI support unlock for your students?

Whether you're working to fill special education staffing gaps, strengthen individualized instruction, or improve student outcomes, Parallel can help schools build consistent, high-quality support around the needs of each learner.

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