Kansas Dyslexia Resources
Ask for reading screening, school evaluation, and free parent help. New literacy plans begin in 2027-28.
More about dyslexia help in Kansas
Kansas requires reading screening and evidence-based instruction. A 2026 law adds K-3 literacy plans in 2027-28 and elementary reading specialists in 2029-30.
Families Together offers free help in English and Spanish. After the school receives evaluation consent, evaluation, eligibility and any initial IEP implementation are due within 60 school days, with limited exceptions.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Kansas.
Free parent help
Families Together, Inc.
Free statewide special-education advice and parent training, in English and Spanish.
FreeEspañolState dyslexia guidance
Kansas Dyslexia Handbook and Current Guidance
State dyslexia handbook, current screening rules and teacher-training requirements.
FreeSpecial education office
Kansas State Department of Education Special Education
Kansas special education guidance, family resources, and dispute-resolution links.
Free
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia Kansas(opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia association
International Dyslexia Association Kansas-Missouri Branch(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
Kansas State Department of Education(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
Kansas Adult Education Centers(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Kansas
The steps and deadlines in Kansas rules.
Request an evaluation in writing
Describe reading concerns and ask the district to evaluate. You may request an evaluation at any time, even during reading intervention.
Read the notice and give consent
Ask for the parent-rights notice and proposed assessment plan. If the district refuses an evaluation, it must explain its refusal in writing.
- Time limit: 60 school days
Track the 60-school-day deadline
Evaluation, eligibility and initial IEP implementation are due within 60 school days after consent is received, with limited exceptions.
- Time limit: 30 days
Help write the IEP
If eligible, the IEP is due within 30 calendar days of eligibility and within the overall 60-school-day period. Include reading goals and support.
- Time limit: 10 school days
Consent to services and check the start
Services should start within 10 school days after you consent to them, unless the school can justify a delay.
Get help if you disagree
Ask about an independent evaluation at public expense, mediation or a complaint. Families Together can help you understand your options.
Kansas dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
Now: screen K-8 three times a year and grade 9 in fall; older at-risk students continue. One statewide screening tool starts in 2027-28.
2026-27 screening protocol; K.S.A. 72-3262(c)(1), HB 2485 section 4 (2026)
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
Tiered reading help is required now; high-risk K-3 literacy plans with at least 90 intervention minutes weekly start in 2027-28.
K.S.A. 72-3262(c)(2); 74-32,293(b); HB 2485 sections 4 and 8 (2026)
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Specified educator license groups need annual dyslexia training by March 1; teachers new to Kansas also need initial modules.
Dyslexia defined in law
Partly
What it says
State law names dyslexia as a disability; current agency guidance uses the October 2025 International Dyslexia Association definition.
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
KSDE publishes a July 2025 Dyslexia Handbook for districts, educators, students, and parents.
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
The agency has an early-literacy/dyslexia contact; licensed specialists for each elementary school are required from 2029-30.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
Law requires evidence-based reading instruction and phonics; it restricts three-cueing and requires structured-literacy methodology.
K.S.A. 72-3262(b); 74-32,293(c); 74-32,294(a); HB 2485 (2026)
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Kansas
Pick what you need.
Official help
What your state says schools must do.
Kansas Special Education Process Handbook (opens in a new tab)
Kansas special education process guidance for families and school teams.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Fort Hays State University Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Reading, writing, and language assessment and treatment for students in western Kansas.
Phillips Fundamental Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Reading, writing and spelling assessments to plan help for students ages 5-18.
Pittsburg State University Center for Reading (opens in a new tab)
Income-based dyslexia assessment and reading intervention, in person or online.
University of Kansas Child and Family Services Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Learning-disability assessments for students and adults; income-based fees for student testing.
University of Kansas Medical Center Speech-Language Pathology Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Free dyslexia testing at a university clinic in Kansas City.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Educational Therapy Center (opens in a new tab)
Orton-Gillingham reading tutoring in Overland Park, with virtual options when appropriate.
Fort Hays State University Language and Literacy Institute (opens in a new tab)
Free in-person and online literacy tutoring for struggling Kansas students.
Horizon Academy Tutoring (opens in a new tab)
One-to-one Orton-Gillingham reading tutoring, in person or online.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Assistive Technology for Kansans (opens in a new tab)
Try learning-support devices, borrow equipment and get help finding funding.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Colby Community College Adult Education (opens in a new tab)
Free adult reading and writing classes in northwest Kansas, with blended learning options.
Garden City Career Connection Academy (opens in a new tab)
Adult reading and writing classes in southwest Kansas, with English and Spanish options.
Kansas Works employment and training services (opens in a new tab)
Free job search, resume help, and training finder, plus a program for ages 14-24 with a disability.
Seward County Community College Adult Education (opens in a new tab)
Adult English reading classes and high school equivalency study in Liberal and nearby communities.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
Andeel Teacher Literacy Institute (opens in a new tab)
Alphabetic Phonics training for parents, teachers and administrators teaching students with dyslexia.
Kansas Structured Literacy and Dyslexia Guidance (opens in a new tab)
State newsletters, resources, and answers for Kansas teachers on structured literacy and dyslexia.
Schools for dyslexia in Kansas
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
5 of 5 shown
- Dyslexia school
Horizon Academy(opens in a new tab)
Roeland Park · Johnson County · Grades 1-8
Full-day school with Orton-Gillingham instruction for students with learning differences.
Financial aid - Dyslexia school
Rolph Literacy Academy(opens in a new tab)
Wichita · Sedgwick County · Ages 5-10
Early-intervention school using Alphabetic Phonics for students with dyslexia or reading difficulties.
- Public districtExtra reading help
Clay County Unified School District 379(opens in a new tab)
Clay Center · Clay County
Alphabetic Phonics reading lessons from specially trained teachers for students who need extra help.
- PublicClassroom program
West Franklin Elementary at Williamsburg(opens in a new tab)
Williamsburg · Franklin County · Grades PK-5
Classroom phonics with UFLI in K-2 and 95% Core Phonics in grades 3-5.
- Public districtClassroom program
Ottawa Unified School District 290(opens in a new tab)
Ottawa · Franklin County
Phonics lessons from the 95 Percent Group in Ottawa classrooms, according to the publisher.
How Kansas 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.
Kansas dyslexia questions
Does Kansas require structured literacy?
Yes. State guidance says accredited Kansas schools must teach reading with structured literacy, a step-by-step method based on reading research.
SourceHow long does a school evaluation take?
The 60-school-day clock starts when the district receives written evaluation consent, not your first request. It covers evaluation, eligibility and initial IEP implementation, with limited exceptions.
SourceDoes dyslexia automatically qualify a student for an IEP?
No: a student needs both a disability and a need for special education. Ask Families Together about a 504 plan if accommodations may be enough.
SourceWhen do the new literacy plans start?
In 2027-28, districts must write plans with parents for K-3 students at high risk. Plans include testing, progress checks, and at least 90 minutes of extra reading help each week.
SourceWhere can families get free help?
Families Together offers free IEP, 504 plan and parent-rights assistance statewide, with English and Spanish contacts. Disability Rights Center of Kansas offers free legal advocacy for Kansans with disabilities.
SourceDoes Kansas require dyslexia screening?
Yes. Now: screen K-8 three times a year and grade 9 in fall; older at-risk students continue. One statewide screening tool starts in 2027-28.
SourceAre there schools for dyslexia in Kansas?
Yes. This guide lists 2 schools built for students with dyslexia: Horizon Academy (Roeland Park), Rolph Literacy Academy (Wichita). Public districts with reading programs are listed too.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Kansas?
Yes. Kansas Talking Books (800-362-0699) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Kansas?
In 2024, 28% of Kansas 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 (10)
- ksde.gov — Current public agency dyslexia contact.
- Kansas Dyslexia Handbook, July 2025 — Official handbook; newer screening protocol and agency definition govern updated claims.
- Process Handbook, chapter 3 — If parents disagree with the school evaluation; the district funds an eligible request or initiates due process without unnecessary delay.
- HB 2485 legislative history — Live browser legislative-history table states Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026; saved in law-contact-1.json. Table wording is not present in automated checker text.
- Enrolled HB 2485, sections 4, 8 and 9 — School-district materials may not use three-cueing or visual memory as the primary basis for word recognition; Board must designate structured-literacy practices and prohibit discredited methods.
- Adult Education Centers — Current statewide adult education directory; canonical no-www address verified.
- Families Together programs — Free statewide parent center, IEP/504 support and English/Spanish assistance.
- 2026-2027 Dyslexia Screening Protocol — Grade 9 benchmark exit, continued older-student screening, alternate screener and recently arrived student exceptions apply. Preschool reporting phases in through 2027-28.
- K.S.A. 72-3404 — Subsection (aa) includes dyslexia among disabilities requiring special education and related services.
- Kansas Dyslexia Handbook, July 2025
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