Florida Dyslexia Resources
K-3 reading help must start immediately. Get free parent support and ask your school for an evaluation.
More about dyslexia help in Florida
Florida requires reading screening and immediate intervention for K-3 reading deficiencies or dyslexia characteristics. Screening identifies risk; a full evaluation and school team decide special education eligibility.
Request an evaluation in writing without waiting for reading intervention to end. Regional parent centers offer free help, and eligible students and adults can get free talking books.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Florida.
State dyslexia guidance
Florida Dyslexia and Reading Deficiency Guidance
Official guidance on immediate reading intervention and parent notice for K-3 students.
FreeSpecial education office
Florida Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
Official special education rights, district contacts, and dispute-resolution information.
FreeFree legal advocacy
Disability Rights Florida
Free, confidential disability-rights help, including education concerns.
Free
Help for your part of Florida
Alachua, Baker, and 37 more counties1 contact
Broward, Indian River, and 10 more counties1 contact
Charlotte, Citrus, and 14 more counties1 contact
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia Florida(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
Florida Department of Education Just Read, Florida!(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
Florida Literacy Coalition(opens in a new tab)
Job help for adults
Florida Vocational Rehabilitation(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Florida
The steps and deadlines in Florida rules.
Request an evaluation in writing
Ask your school district to evaluate suspected reading disability. Reading intervention can continue during the evaluation.
- Time limit: 30 days
Get consent or written refusal
Within 30 calendar days of your request, the district must obtain evaluation consent or explain refusal in writing, unless you agree otherwise.
- Time limit: 60 days
Ask how the deadline is counted
The evaluation is due 60 calendar days after the district gets your consent, but some days do not count. Ask for your child's due date.
Get reading help now
K-3 reading help starts immediately. Ask for written parent notice, a reading plan, and monthly written progress updates.
Review eligibility and the learning plan
Join the eligibility team and request your report. If your child needs special education, help develop an IEP and consent to initial services.
Get help if you disagree
Ask your parent center about an independent evaluation, mediation, a state complaint, or a due process hearing.
Florida dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
K-3 students receive screening and progress monitoring three times yearly; identified dyslexia characteristics require further screening.
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
K-3 students with reading deficiency or dyslexia characteristics must get immediate, explicit, systematic, multisensory reading help.
Teacher training
Partly
What it says
Reading endorsement competencies cover dyslexia and reading science; this is not a training mandate for every teacher.
Dyslexia defined in law
Partly
What it says
The state rule defines specific learning disability and explicitly includes dyslexia as an associated condition.
State dyslexia handbook
Partly
What it says
Official reading guidance covers dyslexia and grade-three promotion; a standalone current dyslexia handbook was not confirmed.
State dyslexia specialist
Not sure
What it says
Just Read, Florida! provides reading guidance; a dedicated statewide dyslexia coordinator was not confirmed.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
Phonics is the primary word-reading strategy; state-identified foundational programs cannot use three-cueing or visual word memorization.
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Florida
Pick what you need.
Official help
What your state says schools must do.
Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (opens in a new tab)
Family support, training, technology help, and free developmental screening for eligible preschoolers.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Step Up For Students Unique Abilities Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
Scholarship accounts for approved learning supports for eligible Florida students with disabilities.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Florida State University Assessment, Learning Evaluation, and Counseling Center (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations for students ages 16+ and adults; learning-disorder assessment listed at $650.
Florida State University Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center (opens in a new tab)
Free evaluations for eligible Panhandle students with complex learning and other needs, ages 3-22.
Florida State University Psychology Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Learning-disorder evaluations for children and adults in Tallahassee; educational evaluations listed at $500.
The dePaul School Community Dyslexia Screenings (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia-risk screening for ages 5+; free community events and low-cost requested screenings.
University of Central Florida Communication Disorders Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Reading and writing evaluations and intervention for students and adults in Orlando.
University of Florida Jacksonville Diagnostic and Learning Resources Center (opens in a new tab)
Serves Baker, Clay, and 4 more counties
Free evaluations for eligible northeast Florida students with complex needs, ages 3-22.
University of Florida Reading Program (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations and reading intervention for children and adults; evaluation scholarships may help.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Florida Dyslexia Literacy Center (opens in a new tab)
Orton-Gillingham tutoring and educator training in Northeast Florida.
Roberts Center Reading Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Orton-Gillingham reading tutoring in Lakeland; sessions listed at $45.
The Lucy Project (opens in a new tab)
Miami reading lessons for students with dyslexia, with prices based on family income.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (opens in a new tab)
Statewide assistive technology loans, demonstrations, training, and financing.
Orange County Library System Talking Books (opens in a new tab)
Serves Orange County
Free accessible books and players for eligible Orange County residents with reading disabilities.
Pinellas Talking Book Library (opens in a new tab)
Serves Pinellas and Sarasota counties
Free accessible books and players for eligible Pinellas and Sarasota residents with print disabilities.
Learn about dyslexia
Plain guides from trusted experts.
Florida Center for Reading Research (opens in a new tab)
Free reading activities and how-to videos for families, from Florida State University reading researchers.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Safety Harbor Public Library Adult Literacy Tutoring (opens in a new tab)
Serves Safety Harbor
Free adult reading and English tutoring through the library's literacy-council partnership.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
University of Florida Literacy Institute Dyslexia Certificate (opens in a new tab)
Online graduate certificate training educators in dyslexia assessment and intervention.
Schools for dyslexia in Florida
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
11 of 11 shown
- Dyslexia school
Educational Pathways Academy(opens in a new tab)
Naples · Collier County · Grades 1-12
Orton-Gillingham instruction at a grades 1-12 school for students with language-based disabilities.
- Dyslexia school
The Roig Academy(opens in a new tab)
Miami · Miami-Dade County · Grades K-8
Miami K-8 private school for students with dyslexia and learning differences.
- Dyslexia school
Park School(opens in a new tab)
Maitland · Orange County · Grades K-8
Private K-8 school built for students with dyslexia.
- Dyslexia school
The Christ School Bridge(opens in a new tab)
Orlando · Orange County · Grades Ask program grades
Specialized Orlando program for students with dyslexia using Orton-Gillingham.
Orton-Gillingham Academy accredited program - Dyslexia school
Saint Paul's School — Cadence Program for Dyslexic Thinkers(opens in a new tab)
Clearwater · Pinellas County · Grades 2-8
Orton-Gillingham instruction for grades 2-8 in a Clearwater school-within-a-school.
Financial aid - Dyslexia school
The dePaul School for Dyslexia(opens in a new tab)
Clearwater · Pinellas County · Grades K-8
Clearwater K-8 school for students with dyslexia; Orton-Gillingham reading lessons in grades 1-4.
- Public districtExtra reading help
Orange County Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Orange County
Reading checks three times a year, and intensive small-group help for students with signs of dyslexia.
Screens for dyslexia - Public districtExtra reading help
Pinellas County Schools(opens in a new tab)
Pinellas County
Dyslexia-risk screening in grades K-5; students with disabilities can get Lindamood-Bell sound lessons.
Screens for dyslexia - Public districtExtra reading help
Wakulla County Schools(opens in a new tab)
Wakulla County
The 2026-27 district reading plan lists phonics intervention for elementary students.
- PublicClassroom program
Skycrest Elementary School(opens in a new tab)
Clearwater · Pinellas County · Grades K-5
Clearwater public elementary school using University of Florida phonics lessons in classrooms.
- Public districtClassroom program
School Board of Hardee County(opens in a new tab)
Hardee County
University of Florida phonics lessons in kindergarten through grade 2 classrooms, as of 2025-26.
Dyslexia help by county in Florida
Local schools, groups, and services in each guide.
How Florida 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.
Florida dyslexia questions
Does screening diagnose dyslexia?
No. Screening identifies risk and guides reading instruction; it is not an evaluation for special education eligibility. A full evaluation and school team decide whether special education is needed.
SourceWhy can an evaluation take longer than 60 calendar days?
School holidays, breaks, summer, some disaster closures, and absences when a student misses more than eight school days do not count. A written extension of up to 30 days, a child repeatedly not brought for testing, or a move to a new district can also change the date.
SourceMust my child finish intervention before an evaluation?
No. You can ask for an evaluation while reading help continues. The district must get your consent or refuse in writing within 30 calendar days, unless you both agree in writing to another timeline.
SourceDoes dyslexia automatically qualify a student for an IEP?
No. The school evaluates educational needs and eligibility; a diagnosis alone is not enough. A student who does not qualify for special education may qualify for accommodations under Section 504.
SourceDoes dyslexia exempt a third grader from retention?
Not by itself. Florida allows only listed exemptions, such as passing an approved alternative reading test or a student portfolio; ask the school which ones fit your child.
SourceCan a scholarship pay for reading support?
Yes, for some students. The Unique Abilities scholarship can pay for approved services for eligible students, including those with a specific learning disability; awards are not guaranteed.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in Florida?
Family Network on Disabilities Parent Education Network (800-825-5736) and Disability Rights Florida (800-342-0823) help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Are there schools for dyslexia in Florida?
Yes. This guide lists 6 schools built for students with dyslexia: Educational Pathways Academy (Naples), Park School (Maitland), Saint Paul's School — Cadence Program for Dyslexic Thinkers (Clearwater), and 3 more. Public districts with reading programs are listed too.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Florida?
Yes. Florida Braille and Talking Book Library (800-226-6075) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Florida?
In 2024, 33% of Florida 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
Learn more
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Sources for this page (10)
- leg.state.fl.us — F.S. 1008.25(4)(c), (5)(a), (d).
- leg.state.fl.us — 2026 compilation: restriction applies to state-identified foundational reading programs. Context may support comprehension, not teach word reading.
- flrules.org — Rule (6): parent participation, free report and eligibility documentation; (9): separate consent to initial services.
- flrules.org — Current adopted rule effective January 7, 2016. Rule-development notices are not adopted amendments; no separate dyslexia definition inferred.
- fldoe.org — If parents disagree with district evaluation; consult safeguards for public-expense rules and district criteria.
- flsenate.gov — Proposal did not become law; not used as an enacted mandate.
- info.fldoe.org
- fldoe.org — Revised endorsement competencies address dyslexia identification and evidence-based intervention.
- info.fldoe.org — Technical assistance paper revised September 15, 2023; use live statutes for current requirements.
- fldoe.org — Official hub links independent evaluation safeguards, mediation, complaints and due process forms.
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