Mississippi Dyslexia Resources
Schools screen in kindergarten and grade 1. Request an evaluation and ask about dyslexia therapy scholarships.
More about dyslexia help in Mississippi
Public districts screen for dyslexia in spring kindergarten and fall grade 1. A screening result is not a diagnosis, and a diagnosis does not automatically qualify a student for special education.
Families can request a school evaluation and get parent-center help. Eligible students may use dyslexia therapy scholarships; adults can find reading classes, audio books, and university or community therapy.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Mississippi.
Free parent help
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
Parent information on school rights and free transition support for youth with disabilities.
FreeState dyslexia guidance
Mississippi Department of Education Dyslexia Services
State dyslexia guidance, scholarships, screeners, training, and family tools.
FreeSpecial education office
Mississippi Department of Education Office of Special Education
Official special education rules, parent rights, and ways to resolve disagreements with a school.
Free
More go-to contacts
Dyslexia association
International Dyslexia Association Mississippi Branch(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Mississippi
The steps and deadlines in Mississippi rules.
Put your request in writing
Ask the district to evaluate suspected disability. A verbal request also counts; keep a written copy for your records.
- Time limit: 14 days
Review the school’s response
The evaluation team must meet within 14 calendar days of the request to review existing information and decide if evaluation is needed.
- Time limit: 60 days
Give informed consent
The initial evaluation is due within 60 calendar days after parental consent, with limited exceptions and agreed extensions for learning disability.
- Time limit: 30 days
Write the learning plan
If eligible for special education, help develop the IEP within 30 calendar days of eligibility. It must be implemented without delay.
Ask about other reading supports
If a diagnosed student is not special-education eligible, ask the district to consider a 504 plan and needed reading interventions.
Get help if you disagree
Ask about an independent evaluation, mediation, a state complaint, or due process. The parent center can explain your options.
Mississippi dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
Public districts must screen in spring kindergarten and fall grade 1 with an approved screener.
Miss. Code § 37-173-15; Dyslexia Handbook Support Guide, pp. 17–18 (2017)
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
Districts must plan interventions and accommodations for diagnosed students, considering special education and 504 eligibility.
Miss. Code § 37-173-16; Dyslexia Handbook Support Guide, pp. 14–15 (2021)
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Districts must provide four hours of dyslexia awareness training every three years to instructional educators and paraprofessionals.
Miss. Code § 37-173-16; HB 754 (2021); Handbook, p. 17 (2021)
Dyslexia defined in law
Partly
What it says
The official handbook defines dyslexia; the current statutory definition was not independently opened in full.
Dyslexia Handbook Support Guide, p. 8; Miss. Code § 37-173-1
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The education department publishes a July 2025 Dyslexia Handbook Support Guide for schools and families.
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
State intervention staff provide dyslexia training and technical help; a separately titled statewide dyslexia coordinator was not confirmed.
Science of reading law
Partly
What it says
K-3 reading plans include research-based instruction in phonics and other reading skills; no broader three-cueing ban is asserted.
Literacy-Based Promotion Act; official 2016 overview, pp. 1–2
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Mississippi
Pick what you need.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Families as Allies (opens in a new tab)
Parent-to-parent support and help finding school-rights and family resources.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
DuBard School Evaluation and Outclient Services (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations and paid therapy for students and adults; free full-time school is separate.
Lighthouse Center for Diagnostics (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations for students and adults, with a free screening questionnaire and consultation.
Mississippi Christian University Dyslexia Center (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia testing by licensed examiners and therapy by trained dyslexia therapists, at a university center.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Lighthouse Outclient Dyslexia Therapy (opens in a new tab)
Small-group Orton-Gillingham therapy for diagnosed students and adults in Ocean Springs.
Mississippi State University Dyslexia/Reading Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Orton-Gillingham-based reading therapy in person or online across Mississippi.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Mississippi Project START (Success Through Assistive Rehabilitative Technology) (opens in a new tab)
Try assistive devices through short-term loans and get help finding suitable technology.
North Mississippi Regional Center Technology Assistive Device Center (opens in a new tab)
Free assistive technology evaluations, demonstrations, software support, and equipment loans.
Parent groups
Families who have been there.
Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Association (opens in a new tab)
State association supporting dyslexia therapists and therapy standards.
Learn about dyslexia
Plain guides from trusted experts.
Mississippi Dyslexia Handbook Support Guide (opens in a new tab)
Official guide to screening, reading supports, school rights, and dyslexia therapy scholarships.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Mississippi Delta Community College Adult Education (opens in a new tab)
Free adult reading and high school equivalency classes, books, and learning materials.
Mississippi eDULT Online (opens in a new tab)
Free online adult reading and high school equivalency classes with coaching and local support.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
University of Southern Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Education (opens in a new tab)
Graduate dyslexia therapy training with structured language practicum and Mississippi licensure path.
William Carey University Dyslexia Therapy Program (opens in a new tab)
Hybrid graduate training in Orton-Gillingham structured literacy and dyslexia therapy licensure.
Schools for dyslexia in Mississippi
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
7 of 7 shown
- Public dyslexia program
DuBard School for Language Disorders(opens in a new tab)
Hattiesburg · Forrest County · Ages 3-13
Free public specialized school for dyslexia and severe language, speech, or hearing disorders.
- Dyslexia school
Innova Preparatory School(opens in a new tab)
Hattiesburg · Forrest County · Grades 1-12
Grades 1-12 dyslexia academy: Orton-Gillingham lessons from certified dyslexia therapists.
Financial aid - Dyslexia school
The 3-D School(opens in a new tab)
Petal · Forrest County · Grades 2-6
Specialized school teaching Orton-Gillingham-based reading, writing, and spelling.
- Dyslexia school
Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia(opens in a new tab)
Ocean Springs · Jackson County · Grades 2-6
Specialized grades 2–6 school with daily Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy.
- Public districtExtra reading help
Hattiesburg Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Forrest County
School-day Orton-Gillingham dyslexia therapy, screening, and reading support procedures.
Screens for dyslexia - PrivateExtra reading help
Starkville Academy(opens in a new tab)
Starkville · Oktibbeha County · Grades 1-6 program
Small-group Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy during school for grades 1–6.
- Public district
Madison County Schools(opens in a new tab)
Madison County
District dyslexia coordinator and guidance on reading interventions and accommodations.
Dyslexia contact
How Mississippi 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.
Mississippi dyslexia questions
Does a failed screening mean my child has dyslexia?
No. Screening identifies reading risk, not a diagnosis. Ask about needed intervention and a full evaluation when disability is suspected.
SourceDoes dyslexia automatically qualify a student for an IEP?
No. The district determines special education eligibility first; if a diagnosed student is not eligible, it must consider 504 eligibility and needed interventions.
SourceHow long does a school evaluation take?
The evaluation team reviews a request within 14 calendar days. The initial evaluation is due within 60 calendar days after consent, with limited exceptions.
SourceWhat does the dyslexia therapy scholarship cover?
Eligible students in grades 1–12 may attend another public school or an approved special-purpose nonpublic school. Ask the state about eligibility, application timing, and costs not covered.
SourceIs there help for adults or families far from a clinic?
Mississippi State offers online reading therapy across the state. Free adult education is available online; Lighthouse and DuBard also serve adults.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in Mississippi?
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (601-969-0601) helps families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Are there schools for dyslexia in Mississippi?
Yes. This guide lists 4 schools built for students with dyslexia: DuBard School for Language Disorders (Hattiesburg), Innova Preparatory School (Hattiesburg), Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia (Ocean Springs), and 1 more. Public districts with reading programs are listed too.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi Talking Book Services (1-800-446-0892) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Mississippi?
In 2024, 32% of Mississippi 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
Know something we missed?
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Sources for this page (12)
- mdek12.org
- mdek12.org
- mdek12.org — January 2026 procedures address publicly funded independent evaluations, mediation, formal state complaints, and due process; no complaint deadline is mislabeled an evaluation deadline.
- Current state special education procedures hub
- mdek12.org
- billstatus.ls.state.ms.us — Proposed statutory definition revision did not become law.
- skillupmississippi.com
- lighthousediagnostics.org
- usm.edu — DuBard outclient services span birth through adulthood; only full-time school enrollment is free.
- mdek12.org — Existing K-3 individual reading plan requirement; not evidence of a general three-cueing ban.
- billstatus.ls.state.ms.us — 2026 proposed grades 4–8 expansion did not become law.
- billstatus.ls.state.ms.us — 2026 Senate grades 4–8 proposal also died.
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.
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