District of Columbia Dyslexia Resources
K-2 reading screening and intervention are required. Get free parent help and request a school evaluation.
More about dyslexia help in the District of Columbia
Public and public charter schools must screen K-2 students and help students at risk of reading difficulties. Each school system must adopt a science-based reading program.
Parents can request a special education evaluation without paying for a private diagnosis. The evaluation and eligibility decision are normally due within 60 calendar days after consent.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in the District of Columbia.
Free parent help
Advocates for Justice and Education
Free parent training and one-to-one help with special education rights and meetings.
FreeEspañolState dyslexia guidance
Office of the State Superintendent of Education Dyslexia Legislation Overview
Official screening guidance, family guide, and science-based literacy materials.
FreeSpecial education office
Office of the State Superintendent of Education Special Education Policy Office
Official special education laws, safeguards, and policy help for District students.
Free
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia DC(opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia association
International Dyslexia Association DC Capital Area Branch(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
Office of the State Superintendent of Education(opens in a new tab)
202-727-6436
How to get help in the District of Columbia
The steps and deadlines in District of Columbia rules.
Ask the school to evaluate
Request an evaluation of suspected disability. Oral requests count, but a written request gives you a dated copy.
- Time limit: 30 days
Sign consent for testing
The school must start asking for your consent within 10 business days of a referral, and try to get it within 30 calendar days.
- Time limit: 60 days
Finish evaluation and eligibility
The evaluation and eligibility decision are normally due within 60 calendar days after you give consent.
- Time limit: 30 days
Write the IEP
If eligible, the team must develop the initial IEP within 30 calendar days. Review reading goals, instruction, accommodations, and service details.
Ask for help with disagreements
Ask about an independent evaluation if you disagree with the school's evaluation. Mediation, state complaints, and due process are also options.
District of Columbia dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
K-2 screening began in 2023-24; agency guidance calls for screening at the beginning, middle, and end of each school year.
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
Since 2023-24, schools must address screening-identified needs, notify parents in writing, and request a student-support meeting.
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Now: yearly dyslexia awareness training, and structured-literacy skills for K teachers. Grades 1-3 follow, one a year, to 2029-30.
D.C. Code §§ 38-2581.03, 38-2264; Laws 25-217 (2024), 26-55 (2025) (2025)
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
Law defines dyslexia as a neurobiological learning disability affecting word recognition, spelling, and decoding.
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The education agency provides screening guidance and links a family dyslexia guide in seven languages.
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
The agency lists a literacy contact; 2023 screening guidance names a dyslexia specialist, but the current specialist post was not confirmed.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
Since 2024-25, each public-school system must adopt a science-based reading program with explicit, systematic instruction.
D.C. Code §§ 38-2581.07, 38-2581.01(7); D.C. Law 23-191 (2021)
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in the District of Columbia
Pick what you need.
Official help
What your state says schools must do.
DC Public Schools Early Literacy Screening (opens in a new tab)
District public-school K-2 screening information and family contacts for reading concerns.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Children’s Law Center (opens in a new tab)
Free special education legal help for low-income District parents and caregivers.
Office of the Student Advocate Dyslexia Guidebook (opens in a new tab)
Family guide to asking schools for reading and spelling support, in multiple languages.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
George Washington University Meltzer Center (opens in a new tab)
Reduced-fee psychoeducational assessments for children, adolescents, and adults.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
DC Reading Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Free or low-cost reading help for DC Public Schools students who struggle to sound out words.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
DC Assistive Technology Program (opens in a new tab)
Free device demonstrations and loans; help choosing assistive technology.
Schools for dyslexia in the District of Columbia
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
5 of 5 shown
- Dyslexia school
The Lab School of Washington(opens in a new tab)
Washington · District of Columbia · Grades 1-12
Grades 1-12 in Washington, DC, for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and language-based learning differences.
Financial aid - CharterClassroom program
Achievement Prep Public Charter School - Wahler Place(opens in a new tab)
Washington · District of Columbia · Grades PK3-8
Charter school teaching Fundations phonics in its elementary classes (state list, December 2025).
- CharterClassroom program
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School - Elementary School(opens in a new tab)
Washington · District of Columbia · Grades PK3-5
Charter school teaching Fundations phonics in its elementary classes (state list, December 2025).
- CharterClassroom program
Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School(opens in a new tab)
Washington · District of Columbia · Grades PK3-8
Charter school teaching UFLI phonics in its elementary classes (state list, December 2025).
- Public districtClassroom program
District of Columbia Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Washington · District of Columbia
K-2 reading screening, and Fundations phonics lessons in K-2 classes across the district.
Screens for dyslexiaDyslexia contact
How the District of Columbia reads
Students and adults, next to the whole U.S.
4th graders reading at Proficient
Public schools. The Nation's Report Card (NAEP), 2024
8th graders reading at Proficient
Public schools. The Nation's Report Card (NAEP), 2024
Adults who struggle to read
Ages 16 to 74 at or below Level 1 in a national adult skills survey (PIAAC), data through 2017
NAEP Proficient is a high bar, not the same as “on grade level.” Adult figures are model estimates. Sources: The Nation’s Report Card and the U.S. PIAAC Skills Map, both from NCES.
See reading scores in every stateAlso good, in every state
Bookshare (opens in a new tab)
Ebooks read aloud with highlighting, free for U.S. students with dyslexia; adults pay a yearly fee.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's federally funded parent center for help with special education.
International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Provider Directory (opens in a new tab)
Search IDA's directory for dyslexia testing, tutoring, therapy, and advocacy near you.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (opens in a new tab)
Free, confidential advice on job accommodations for adults with dyslexia, by phone or email.
Learning Ally (opens in a new tab)
Human-read audiobooks for students with dyslexia. Families pay yearly; your school may already offer it.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) (opens in a new tab)
Free audiobooks by mail or app for children and adults with a reading disability like dyslexia.
District of Columbia dyslexia questions
Does screening diagnose dyslexia?
No: K-2 screening shows risk and guides reading help, but it is not a diagnosis. Ask for reading help, and for an evaluation if you suspect a disability.
SourceMust I buy a private diagnosis before asking the school?
No: DC rules forbid requiring a medical diagnosis before a school evaluation. Schools also cannot delay the evaluation to finish reading interventions first.
SourceIs the deadline 120 days after referral?
No, that is an older rule. Since July 1, 2018, the usual deadline is 60 calendar days after you give consent.
SourceCan the DC Reading Clinic help without an IEP?
Yes: an IEP is not needed. Students in grades 1-12 who struggle to sound out words need a teacher recommendation, so ask your DC Public Schools teacher about the next group.
SourceHow do an IEP and a 504 plan differ?
An IEP provides special education and related services for an eligible student. A 504 plan can provide disability-related accommodations; ask the school which evaluation and support fit your student.
SourceHow do I get my child tested for dyslexia in Washington, D.C.?
Ask your child's public school, in writing, for a free evaluation. The school must start asking for your consent within 10 business days of a referral, and try to get it within 30 calendar days. This guide also lists 1 place for private testing.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in Washington, D.C.?
Advocates for Justice and Education (202-678-8060) and Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services (202-547-0198) help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Washington, D.C.?
Yes. DC Talking Book and Braille Program (202-727-2142) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Washington, D.C.?
In 2024, 30% of Washington, D.C. 4th graders scored Proficient in reading on the NAEP test (U.S.: 30%). Proficient is a high bar: solid grade-level reading and more.
Neighboring states
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Sources for this page (12)
- code.dccouncil.gov
- code.dccouncil.gov — Current permanent law: kindergarten 2026-27; first 2027-28; second 2028-29; third 2029-30; later of scheduled year or one year after hire. Approved training or competency demonstration; prior-training provisions apply.
- osse.dc.gov — Sections 3038 and 3047-3049 explain independent evaluations and dispute options; parent center can help choose the route.
- osse.dc.gov — Historical role in 2023 document; no individual contact copied.
- code.dccouncil.gov — Subsection (a) also requires written screening results, description of supplemental instruction, and a requested meeting.
- code.dccouncil.gov — 2024 amendment repealed subsection (a); agency overview still describes the earlier K-2 professional-learning rule.
- code.dccouncil.gov
- osse.dc.gov
- studentadvocate.dc.gov — English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese guide versions, rather than website machine-translation options.
- osse.dc.gov — Current literacy implementation contact does not by itself establish a current dedicated dyslexia specialist.
- code.dccouncil.gov
- code.dccouncil.gov
We list official, nonprofit, university, and well-known services, checked by people. No paid listings. Not legal or medical advice; confirm details with each organization.
Dyslexia resources in every state