New Mexico Dyslexia Resources
First graders are screened for dyslexia, with structured-literacy intervention required when concerns appear.
More about dyslexia help in New Mexico
First graders are screened for dyslexia now; K-3 literacy tests start in 2027-28. Since July 1, 2026, reading lessons must use structured literacy, not guessing words from pictures or context.
Families can request an evaluation during reading intervention. Statewide parent centers, the education ombud, and disability rights advocates can help.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in New Mexico.
Free parent help
Parents Reaching Out
Free parent workshops and support with evaluations, IEPs, 504 plans, and disputes.
FreeState dyslexia guidance
New Mexico Public Education Department Literacy and Humanities
Official dyslexia handbook and structured-literacy guidance for New Mexico schools.
FreeSpecial education office
New Mexico Public Education Department Office of Special Education
State parent portal with rights notices, dispute options, and disability resources.
FreeEspañol
More go-to contacts
Free legal advocacy
Disability Rights New Mexico(opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia association
Southwest Branch of the International Dyslexia Association(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
New Mexico Public Education Department(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
New Mexico Adult Literacy(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in New Mexico
The steps and deadlines in New Mexico rules.
Put your request in writing
Ask licensed school staff for a full evaluation of suspected disability. Oral requests also count; keep a dated copy.
- Time limit: 15 school days
Get the written response
The school must propose or refuse evaluation within 15 school days; a special rule applies before long school breaks.
- Time limit: 60 days
Give consent and track evaluation
The initial evaluation and written report are due within 60 calendar days after consent, with limited exceptions.
- Time limit: 15 school days
Review the report and eligibility
The eligibility meeting is due within 15 school days after the evaluation. You get the report at least two calendar days before it.
Plan support and learn your options
Help write the IEP if eligible. Ask Parents Reaching Out about evaluations, 504 plans, and school support.
Challenge an evaluation or refusal
Ask about an independent evaluation at public expense, mediation, a state complaint, or due process when you disagree.
New Mexico dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
Elementary schools must screen entering first graders for dyslexia with a department-approved screener.
6.30.17.9 NMAC (2020)
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
Students with signs of dyslexia get targeted structured-literacy help and progress checks, or a student assistance team referral.
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Elementary teachers need structured-literacy training; the 2026 law also requires training for reading teachers and school administrators.
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
State rules define dyslexia as a neurological condition affecting word recognition, spelling, and decoding.
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The Public Education Department publishes the 2020 New Mexico Dyslexia Handbook and related guidance.
Source (2020)
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
The department must provide dyslexia evaluation technical help; literacy coaches for low-performing schools start in 2027-28.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
The law effective July 1, 2026 requires structured literacy; K-12 reading intervention materials may not use three-cueing.
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in New Mexico
Pick what you need.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Education for Parents of Indigenous Children with Special Needs (opens in a new tab)
Parent center for Native American families of children with disabilities, across New Mexico.
Native American Disability Law Center (opens in a new tab)
Serves San Juan County
Free disability rights help, including special education, for Native people in the Four Corners.
New Mexico Office of the Special Education Ombud (opens in a new tab)
State ombud helps families understand special education and attend IEP meetings.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Eastern New Mexico University Speech and Hearing Rehabilitation Outreach Center (opens in a new tab)
Reading and dyslexia assessment and treatment for all ages, on campus or by telepractice.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Academic Language Therapy Association New Mexico Chapter (opens in a new tab)
Find certified New Mexico language therapists, including a virtual-service search.
Embudo Valley Tutoring Association (opens in a new tab)
Serves Rio Arriba and Taos counties
Free rural tutoring and specialized phonetic reading support for students with dyslexia.
Reading Quest (opens in a new tab)
Serves Santa Fe, Taos, and 3 more counties
Structured-literacy tutoring for struggling readers, with free options through partner schools.
The Learning Center for Dyslexia and Academic Success (opens in a new tab)
Serves Grant County
Scholarships for dyslexia instruction and help finding trained teachers in Grant County.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
New Mexico Technology Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
Free technology demonstrations, short-term device loans, and help finding accessible tools.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe (opens in a new tab)
Serves Santa Fe
Free adult tutoring in reading, writing, and English, based at Santa Fe Community College.
Luna Community College College and Career Readiness Institute (opens in a new tab)
Free adult literacy classes and materials, with virtual and hybrid learning for rural students.
ReadWest (opens in a new tab)
Free one-to-one adult reading and writing tutoring, with some online meetings.
Roswell Literacy Council (opens in a new tab)
Serves Chaves County
Free adult reading, writing, math, and English tutoring in Chaves County.
San Juan College Academic and Career Engagement Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult and family literacy classes and high school equivalency preparation in Farmington.
University of New Mexico-Taos Education and Career Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult reading, writing, and basic math classes in Taos.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
May Center for Learning Dyslexia Specialist Program (opens in a new tab)
New Mexico structured-literacy specialist training and dyslexia certification pathway.
Multisensory Language Training Institute of New Mexico (opens in a new tab)
Accredited training in dyslexia therapy and structured language.
New Mexico Public Education Department Structured Literacy Training (opens in a new tab)
Free five-unit dyslexia and structured-literacy training for New Mexico educators.
University of New Mexico Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Literacy (opens in a new tab)
Remote mentoring and professional learning for rural literacy educators.
Western New Mexico University Dyslexia Certificate (opens in a new tab)
Online graduate certificate for teachers in assessing and teaching students with dyslexia.
Schools for dyslexia in New Mexico
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
3 of 3 shown
- Dyslexia school
May School(opens in a new tab)
Santa Fe · Santa Fe County · Grades Pre-K-8
Specialized Pre-K–8 school for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Financial aid - Public districtExtra reading help
Las Cruces Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Las Cruces · Doña Ana County
S.P.I.R.E. reading intervention for struggling readers and students with dyslexia, grades K-7.
- CharterClassroom program
Mountain Mahogany Community School(opens in a new tab)
Albuquerque · Bernalillo County · Grades K-8
K-2 teachers trained in Orton-Gillingham reading methods, at a free public charter school.
How New Mexico 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.
New Mexico dyslexia questions
Does New Mexico screen for dyslexia?
Yes. Elementary schools screen entering first graders with a department-approved dyslexia screener.
SourceWhat happens after a student is flagged?
The school provides targeted structured-literacy intervention with progress monitoring or refers the student to a student assistance team.
SourceWhere can families get special-education help?
Parents Reaching Out, EPICS (for Native American families), the state ombud, and Disability Rights New Mexico offer family information or advocacy.
SourceDoes screening change in 2027-28?
Yes. From 2027-28, schools must give K-3 literacy tests; the grade 1 test may replace the separate dyslexia screener.
SourceWhat changes before a long school break?
If you ask within 15 school days before a break of 14 days or more, the school has 30 calendar days to answer. If testing ends during the break, meetings are due within 15 school days after classes resume.
SourceIs the dyslexia screener a full evaluation?
No. It identifies characteristics of dyslexia to guide support. You can request an initial special education evaluation during intervention.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in New Mexico?
Parents Reaching Out and Disability Rights New Mexico help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (1(800) 456-5515) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in New Mexico?
In 2024, 20% of New Mexico 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 (6)
- srca.nm.gov — Technical assistance requirement does not establish a single statewide dyslexia coordinator.
- web.ped.nm.gov
- srca.nm.gov — I: school must fund an independent evaluation or defend its evaluation in due process without unnecessary delay, subject to criteria; D(6) covers refusal/inaction disputes.
- nmlegis.gov — Section 4: K-3 core materials must be high-quality; K-12 intervention/supplemental materials must follow reading science and structured literacy, not three-cueing. Section 7: effective July 1, 2026.
- 2026 SB37 legislative status
- parentsreachingout.org — Page lists evaluation, eligibility, 504 plans, IEPs and dispute resolution; dyslexia alone does not automatically establish special education eligibility.
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