Rhode Island Dyslexia Resources
Schools must address dyslexia and train teachers in how reading works. Free help with IEPs and 504s.
More about dyslexia help in Rhode Island
Rhode Island law directs schools to address dyslexia and requires literacy training for educators. Families can request a special-education evaluation in writing.
State agencies and parent groups offer help with evaluations, school plans, accessible books, tutoring, adult education, and work services.
- PartlyDyslexia screening law
- 33%4th graders at Proficient
- FreeParent help with IEPs
- 24Places to get help
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Rhode Island.
Free parent help
Rhode Island Parent Information Network
Free family support for IEPs, 504 plans, and special education rights.
FreeEspañolState dyslexia guidance
Rhode Island Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia Resources
Official guides on dyslexia, screening, assessment, and classroom support.
FreeSpecial education office
Rhode Island Special Education Regulations and Rights
Rules, safeguards, and dispute options for special education.
FreeEspañolPortuguês+2 languages: 中文, العربية
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island(opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia association
International Dyslexia Association Rhode Island(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
Rhode Island Department of Education(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
Rhode Island Adult Education(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Rhode Island
The steps and deadlines in Rhode Island rules.
Ask in writing
Send the school district a dated written request for a comprehensive special-education evaluation and keep a copy.
- Time limit: 10 school days
Evaluation team meets
The team, including you, meets within 10 school days after referral to decide if testing is needed; ask for written notice of refusal.
- Time limit: 10 school days
Give consent
Review and sign written evaluation consent; testing must begin within 10 school days after the district receives it.
- Time limit: 63 days
Review reports and eligibility
Evaluation and eligibility are due 63 calendar days after consent. Receive meeting materials 3 calendar days ahead, unless you agree otherwise.
- Time limit: 10 school days
Review and answer the IEP
If eligible, help write the IEP. Accept or reject a proposed IEP in writing within 10 school days; accepted plans start on their stated date.
- Time limit: 15 days
Ask for help if you disagree
You may request an independent evaluation at public expense. The district has 15 calendar days to fund it or seek a hearing to defend its evaluation.
Rhode Island dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Partly
What it says
School-entry readiness screening is required; this is not a confirmed universal dyslexia-specific screening mandate.
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
The literacy program must include strategies that formally address dyslexia when appropriate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-2 (2016)
Teacher training
Yes
What it says
Covered teachers needed reading-science proficiency or awareness by 2025-26; already-licensed new hires have a one-year pathway.
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
State law defines dyslexia as a serious reading impairment involving phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-2 (2016)
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The Rhode Island Department of Education publishes dyslexia resources, assessment materials, and instructional guidance.
State dyslexia specialist
Not sure
What it says
Official dyslexia guidance is available; a dedicated state dyslexia specialist or coordinator position was not confirmed.
Science of reading law
Yes
What it says
The Right to Read Act requires training in reading science and explicit, systematic structured literacy, with duties by teaching role.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11.4-6 (2019)
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Rhode Island
Pick what you need.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
Rhode Island Hospital Pediatric Neuropsychology (opens in a new tab)
Neuropsychological assessment of learning and thinking in students and some adults.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Rhode Island Children's Dyslexia Center (opens in a new tab)
Free Orton-Gillingham tutoring for children with dyslexia.
Rhode Island College Literacy Clinic and Dyslexia Endorsement (opens in a new tab)
Summer reading clinic for elementary and middle school students, run by teachers in training.
Rhode Island Tutorial and Educational Services (opens in a new tab)
Orton-Gillingham and Wilson tutoring for students and adults; ask about reduced-price places.
University of Rhode Island After School Literacy Program (opens in a new tab)
Free literacy tutoring for K-12 students, with assessments to guide instruction.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
TechACCESS of Rhode Island Demonstrations (opens in a new tab)
Free in-person or virtual demonstrations of reading tools; appointments required.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Literacy Volunteers of East Bay (opens in a new tab)
Serves Providence, Bristol, and Newport counties
Free adult reading and writing tutoring in East Providence, Bristol County, and Newport County.
Literacy Volunteers of Washington County (opens in a new tab)
Serves Washington County
Free adult reading and writing help, with online and in-person tutoring.
Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (opens in a new tab)
English, digital literacy, and citizenship classes; $30 annual registration, with free classes.
Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning (opens in a new tab)
Adult reading and GED classes, online or in person; $10 registration fee with financial help.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
Hamilton Institute at Wheeler (opens in a new tab)
Free literacy screenings, family education, and Orton-Gillingham training options.
Rhode Island Literacy Learning Laboratory (opens in a new tab)
Online dyslexia learning sessions and recordings for families and educators.
Root Literacy Design (opens in a new tab)
Virtual structured-literacy training and supervised practice for educators.
West Bay Collaborative Professional Development (opens in a new tab)
Educator training options including Wilson Reading and Fundations.
Schools for dyslexia in Rhode Island
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
7 of 7 shown
- Dyslexia school
Hamilton School at Wheeler(opens in a new tab)
Providence · Providence County · Grades 1-8
Small-group Orton-Gillingham instruction for students with language-based learning differences.
- Public districtExtra reading help
West Warwick Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Kent County
Phonics screening and 95% Group small-group reading intervention.
- PrivateClassroom program
Saint Kevin School(opens in a new tab)
Warwick · Kent County · Grades PK-8
Early Learning Academy with Fundations and Heggerty in kindergarten through grade 2.
- CharterClassroom program
Paul Cuffee Lower School(opens in a new tab)
Providence · Providence County · Grades K-5
Public charter school in Providence; Fundations phonics in kindergarten to grade 3.
- CharterClassroom program
RISE Prep Lower Academy(opens in a new tab)
Woonsocket · Providence County · Grades K-8
Public charter school in Woonsocket; Fundations phonics in kindergarten to grade 3.
- PublicClassroom program
North Kingstown Early Learning Center(opens in a new tab)
North Kingstown · Washington County · Grades PK
Preschool phonics, spelling, and handwriting instruction using PreK Fundations.
- Public districtClassroom program
Warwick Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Kent County
Fundations and Heggerty phonics in kindergarten to grade 2 classrooms.
Dyslexia help by county in Rhode Island
Local schools, groups, and services in each guide.
How Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island dyslexia questions
Can I request a special-education evaluation?
Yes. A parent can request an evaluation in writing, and the Evaluation Team must decide within 10 school days whether testing is needed.
SourceDoes intervention delay an evaluation?
No. Response to Intervention may support a student, but it cannot be used to delay a requested evaluation.
SourceWhere can I get free dyslexia tutoring?
The Rhode Island Children's Dyslexia Center offers Orton-Gillingham tutoring at no charge to students and families. Ask the center about eligibility and available places.
SourceHow do an IEP and a 504 plan differ?
An IEP provides special education when a student qualifies and needs it. A student who does not qualify may still need accommodations through a 504 plan.
SourceWhat if I disagree with the school?
Ask for a facilitated IEP/504 meeting, mediation, a written state complaint, or a due process hearing. The state special education call center is 401-222-8999.
SourceWhen should an initial IEP be ready?
The rule requires an IEP and services within 15 school days of eligibility. The newer law also gives parents 10 school days to answer a proposed IEP; ask the district to explain the proposed start date.
SourceDoes Rhode Island require dyslexia screening?
Partly. School-entry readiness screening is required; this is not a confirmed universal dyslexia-specific screening mandate.
SourceCan someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island Talking Books Library (401-574-9310) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Rhode Island?
In 2024, 33% of Rhode Island 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 (6)
- Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, & Dyscalculia Resources — A resource page or general special-education office does not prove a dedicated specialist position.
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67-2
- Parental consent required, subsection (h) — No response within ten school days also permits implementation on the specified date. Rejected existing IEP changes preserve the existing IEP during resolution.
- Special education rule, 6.8.1(C)
- Right to Read Act
- Governor's Commission FAQ
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