Maine Dyslexia Resources
Maine requires targeted K-2 dyslexia screening and provides state dyslexia guidance.
More about dyslexia help in Maine
Maine requires targeted dyslexia screening in kindergarten through grade 2. Ask for a special education evaluation in writing if reading difficulties affect learning.
Families can find parent support, free Bangor and Portland dyslexia tutoring, and accessible books. Rural adult-literacy programs and online tutoring offer other options.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Maine.
Free parent help
Maine Parent Federation
Parent training, family support, and special education information statewide.
State dyslexia guidance
Maine Department of Education Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties
State dyslexia guidance, screening resources, and a dyslexia coordinator contact.
FreeSpecial education office
Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education
State special education office, resources, and inclusive education guidance.
Free
More go-to contacts
Free legal advocacy
Disability Rights Maine(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
Maine Adult Education Association(opens in a new tab)
Job help for adults
Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Maine
The steps and deadlines in Maine rules.
Ask in writing
Send a written request for an evaluation to the special education director or superintendent. You can do this while your child is in reading intervention.
- Time limit: 15 school days
Watch for the consent form
If more testing is needed, the school must send you a consent form within 15 school days of getting your request.
- Time limit: 45 school days
Track evaluation and eligibility
For ages 5-22, the school has 45 school days after your consent to finish testing and decide eligibility. A few exceptions apply.
- Time limit: 3 days
Read the reports before the meeting
The school must provide evaluation reports at least 3 calendar days before the IEP meeting discussing them.
Plan services if eligible
The IEP team decides eligibility and services. Evaluation consent is not consent to start special education.
Ask for help if you disagree
Ask about an independent evaluation, mediation, a state complaint, or due process. Maine Parent Federation can explain options.
Maine dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
Since 2016-17, school units must screen K-2 students identified by a teacher as having listed early reading difficulties.
20-A M.R.S. §4710-B (2015)
Help after screening
Partly
What it says
The law calls for evidence-based practices and research-based reading help, but gives no separate right to dyslexia intervention.
20-A M.R.S. §4710-B (2015)
Teacher training
Partly
What it says
The state coordinator must plan dyslexia awareness and screening training; the law does not require every teacher to complete it.
20-A M.R.S. §4710-B (2015)
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
Maine defines dyslexia as neurological, with difficulty reading words accurately or fluently and poor spelling and decoding.
20-A M.R.S. §4710-B (2015)
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The Department of Education publishes official dyslexia guidance and screening resources, though not a standalone Maine handbook.
State dyslexia specialist
Yes
What it says
Maine law creates a state dyslexia coordinator; this is not a requirement for a specialist in every school.
20-A M.R.S. §4710-B (2015)
Science of reading law
Partly
What it says
The education department offers science-of-reading training and resources; no statewide teaching mandate was found.
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Maine
Pick what you need.
Official help
What your state says schools must do.
Maine Special Education Laws and Regulations (opens in a new tab)
Maine special education laws, unified rules, and procedural safeguards.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance KIDS LEGAL (opens in a new tab)
Free legal help with education rights for low-income students and their families.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Neuropsychology and Concussion Management Associates (opens in a new tab)
Clinical testing for learning concerns in Rockport and Auburn, for students and adults.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Bangor Children's Dyslexia Center (opens in a new tab)
Serves Bangor
Free dyslexia tutoring for children in the Bangor area.
Pine State Learning (opens in a new tab)
Structured literacy tutoring and academic skills assessments in Brunswick, Portland, and online.
Portland Children's Dyslexia Center (opens in a new tab)
Serves Portland
Free dyslexia tutoring for children in Portland.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Maine CITE (opens in a new tab)
Try assistive technology with demonstrations, 30-day device loans, and accessible-reading guidance.
Parent groups
Families who have been there.
The Reading League Maine (opens in a new tab)
Maine chapter sharing evidence-based reading and dyslexia resources.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Aroostook County Adult Education (opens in a new tab)
Serves Aroostook County
Free adult reading and academic support across Aroostook County, with some remote options.
Literacy Volunteers of Bangor (opens in a new tab)
Serves Bangor
Free, confidential one-to-one adult help with reading, writing, spelling, and English.
Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties (opens in a new tab)
Serves Franklin and Somerset counties
One-to-one adult literacy tutoring in Franklin and Somerset counties.
Literacy Volunteers of Washington County (opens in a new tab)
Serves Washington County
Help with reading, writing, and spelling for adults in Washington County.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
Maine Department of Education Literacy Learning Modules (opens in a new tab)
Professional learning modules on evidence-based literacy and science of reading instruction.
Schools for dyslexia in Maine
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
2 of 2 shown
- Public districtExtra reading help
Regional School Unit 73(opens in a new tab)
Jay · Franklin County
Foundational phonics support using Really Great Reading in the Jay-area district.
- PublicClassroom program
Village Elementary School(opens in a new tab)
York · York County · Grades PreK-1
Fundations phonics instruction documented in York's 2024 school budget guide.
How Maine 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.
Maine dyslexia questions
Does Maine require dyslexia screening?
Yes. Schools must screen K-2 students whom a classroom teacher sees having trouble with certain early reading skills.
SourceWhere can Maine families find dyslexia guidance?
The Maine Department of Education's Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties page explains the screening law and links to screening and family resources.
SourceWhere can adults find literacy classes?
Maine Adult Education provides reading, writing, mathematics, English-language, and problem-solving instruction through local programs.
SourceIs a 504 plan the same as an IEP?
No. An IEP gives special education to an eligible student; a 504 plan can support a student who does not need special education. A diagnosis alone does not guarantee either plan.
SourceWhat if I disagree with the school's evaluation?
You can ask for an independent evaluation at public expense. The school must pay for it or quickly ask for a hearing to defend its own evaluation.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in Maine?
Maine Parent Federation (800-870-7746) and Disability Rights Maine help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Maine?
Yes. Maine State Library Talking Books (800-762-7106) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Maine?
In 2024, 26% of Maine 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 (9)
- Title 20-A, §4710-B: Dyslexia screening
- Dyslexia & Reading Difficulties | Department of Education
- Special Education Laws & Regulations
- Literacy Learning Modules | Department of Education
- Literacy and Adult Basic Education
- Maine Parent Federation
- Maine Unified Special Education Regulation, V.6 and XVI — V.6 covers independent evaluations; XVI covers mediation, complaints and hearings.
- Public Law Chapter 527, January 11, 2026 — Education funding law, not a new universal dyslexia screening or instruction mandate.
- Federal Section 504 FAQ
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Dyslexia resources in every state