North Dakota Dyslexia Resources
Dyslexia screening and reading help are required. Pathfinder helps families understand school rights.
More about dyslexia help in North Dakota
Public schools must screen enrolled students age seven and younger for dyslexia risk. Parents and teachers can request screening for older students too; screening is not a diagnosis.
Ask your district in writing for a special education evaluation when disability is suspected. The usual deadline is 60 calendar days after consent; Pathfinder offers statewide parent information and individual assistance.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in North Dakota.
Free parent help
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota Parent Training and Information Center
Statewide parent information and individual help with special education and Section 504 rights.
State dyslexia guidance
North Dakota Dyslexia Guidance
Official dyslexia screening, intervention, training, and specialist-credential guidance.
FreeSpecial education office
North Dakota Special Education Office
Official special education rights, guidance, and dispute-resolution information.
Free
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia North Dakota(opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia association
International Dyslexia Association Upper Midwest Branch(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction(opens in a new tab)
701-328-2260Job help for adults
North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in North Dakota
The steps and deadlines in North Dakota rules.
Ask for screening and reading help
Ask for dyslexia screening even if your student is older than seven. Ask which reading skills need intervention and how progress is measured.
Put your evaluation request in writing
Ask the principal and special education director for an evaluation of suspected disability. Keep a copy; screening does not decide eligibility.
Review notice and give consent
The school needs consent before an initial evaluation. If it refuses evaluation, ask for written notice explaining why.
- Time limit: 60 days
Track the evaluation deadline
The evaluation is due within 60 calendar days after you consent. Rare extensions, such as for extreme weather, cannot go past 90 days total.
Help decide eligibility and supports
Participate in the eligibility and learning-plan meetings. Ask about Section 504 protections if special education is not needed.
Get help if you disagree
Ask about an independent evaluation at school expense, mediation, or a state complaint. Pathfinder can explain your options.
North Dakota dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
Each district must universally screen enrolled children age seven and younger for dyslexia; parents or teachers may request the screener.
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
Districts must describe intervention, provide reading intervention for students with dyslexia characteristics, and assess whether it helps.
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Districts must provide dyslexia professional development to appropriate kindergarten through grade three and special education personnel.
N.D.C.C. § 15.1-32-26(3)(f) (2023)
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
North Dakota defines dyslexia as a neurobiological specific learning disability involving word recognition, spelling, and decoding.
N.D.C.C. § 15.1-32-26(1) (2023)
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The education department publishes a dyslexia law guide and screening, intervention, and training guidance.
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
Schools may employ a credentialed dyslexia specialist; a separate state coordinator position was not confirmed.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
Since July 1, 2022, reading curricula must be science-based and include systematic direct instruction in kindergarten through grade three.
N.D.C.C. § 15.1-21-12.1(1) (2021)
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in North Dakota
Pick what you need.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Benson Psychological Services (opens in a new tab)
Psychological learning-disability evaluations in Fargo; ask about reading concerns and fees.
Northern Prairie Community Clinic (opens in a new tab)
University clinic evaluation and treatment for dyslexia and other communication disorders.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Haley’s Hope (opens in a new tab)
One-to-one Barton reading and spelling help for students and adults, in West Fargo or remotely.
Inspiring Minds, Center for Dyslexia and Literacy (opens in a new tab)
Individual reading instruction, student evaluations, and workshops, in person or online.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Fargo Public Library Accessibility Services (opens in a new tab)
Serves Fargo
Borrow dyslexia-friendly children's books, audiobooks, and reader pens in Fargo.
North Dakota Assistive (opens in a new tab)
Free assistive-technology demonstrations for school, work, and daily life.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Belcourt Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Adult basic education and high-school equivalency support at Turtle Mountain College.
Bismarck Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult academic and English learning for eligible residents; high-school equivalency tests cost extra.
Devils Lake Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult high-school equivalency classes and materials at Lake Region State College.
Dickinson Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Adult high-school equivalency preparation in southwest North Dakota; ask about fees and aid.
Fargo Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult basic education and high-school equivalency instruction in Fargo.
Grand Forks Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Adult high-school equivalency and English classes in Grand Forks.
Minot Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult basic education classes, with high-school equivalency and English learning options.
North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation Student Services (opens in a new tab)
Transition and career planning for students with education or employment difficulties.
Valley City Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free adult reading, writing, and high-school equivalency instruction; test fees apply.
Williston Adult Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
Free basic academic and high-school equivalency classes for learners age 16 and older.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
University of North Dakota Dyslexia Certificate (opens in a new tab)
Online undergraduate training in reading assessment and evidence-based dyslexia intervention.
Schools for dyslexia in North Dakota
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
2 of 2 shown
- Public districtExtra reading help
Fargo Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Fargo · Cass County
Sonday, phonics, and other reading interventions matched to student needs.
- Public districtExtra reading help
West Fargo Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
West Fargo · Cass County
Middle-school Sonday and REWARDS interventions, with reading assessment and progress checks.
Dyslexia help by county in North Dakota
Local schools, groups, and services in each guide.
How North Dakota 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.
North Dakota dyslexia questions
Where can North Dakota families get special education help?
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota, the state's parent center, offers information, training, and one-on-one help.
SourceCan a student with a reading disability use Talking Books?
Yes. Talking Books serve North Dakotans who cannot read standard print because of a reading disability.
SourceWhere can adults get employment help?
North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation helps people with disabilities find or keep a job. It also has services for students.
SourceDoes North Dakota require dyslexia screening?
Yes, for students age seven and younger; parents and teachers can ask for screening of older students. Screening shows risk, not a diagnosis.
SourceHow long does an initial school evaluation take?
Usually 60 calendar days after you consent. Rare extensions, such as for extreme weather, cannot go past 90 calendar days total.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in North Dakota?
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota Parent Training and Information Center (701.837.7500) and North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project (800-472-2670) help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
How well do students read in North Dakota?
In 2024, 29% of North Dakota 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)
- Pathfinder Parent Training and Information Center
- North Dakota State Library Talking Book Program
- North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation
- North Dakota Century Code, § 15.1-32-26
- North Dakota reading curriculum law — Subsection 1: July 1, 2022 start; reading components include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
- N.D. Administrative Code 67-23-01-03 — Weather must be documented; limited evaluator access must satisfy the department. State extensions cannot exceed 90 calendar days total; federal transfer/nonparticipation exceptions also apply.
- North Dakota dyslexia guidance
- North Dakota parental rights — Disagreeing with a district evaluation permits a request at public expense; district may defend its evaluation through due process instead of funding it. Mediation, complaints and due process are also explained.
- Educator's Guide, updated December 2025
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Dyslexia resources in every state