Washington Dyslexia Resources
K-2 dyslexia screening is required. Ask your school for an evaluation and get free parent help.
More about dyslexia help in Washington
Washington requires K-2 dyslexia-risk screening and structured reading intervention. A 2026 law sets reading-science criteria for new or updated K-4 curricula from September 2027.
Ask your district in writing for a disability evaluation. It generally has 25 school days to decide whether to evaluate and 35 school days after written consent for evaluation and eligibility.
Start here
The go-to contacts for families in Washington.
Free parent help
Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE)
Parent coaching for evaluation requests, IEP meetings, and Section 504 plans, with interpretation.
FreeEspañolState dyslexia guidance
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Dyslexia Guidance
Official information on dyslexia-risk screening, reading intervention, and family rights.
FreeSpecial education office
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Special Education
State special education rules, your rights as a parent, and ways to settle disagreements.
Free
More go-to contacts
Parent-led dyslexia group
Decoding Dyslexia Washington(opens in a new tab)
Department of education
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction(opens in a new tab)
Adult reading help
Washington Basic Education for Adults(opens in a new tab)
Job help for adults
Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation(opens in a new tab)
How to get help in Washington
The steps and deadlines in Washington rules.
Ask in writing
Ask your district to evaluate a suspected reading disability. Keep a copy; request language or writing support if needed.
- Time limit: 25 school days
Get the written decision
The district must decide whether to evaluate within 25 school days of receiving your request and give written notice.
- Time limit: 35 school days
Give consent and review results
Evaluation and eligibility are due within 35 school days after written consent reaches the district, with stated exceptions.
- Time limit: 30 days
Write the learning plan
If eligible, meet to write the IEP within 30 calendar days of the eligibility decision.
Check that services start
Services must be available as soon as possible after the IEP is developed; consent is required for initial services.
- Time limit: 15 days
Ask for help if you disagree
For an independent evaluation at public expense, the district must agree to fund it or seek a hearing within 15 calendar days.
Washington dyslexia law
Each answer opens to what the law says and where.
Dyslexia screening
Yes
What it says
K-2 dyslexia-risk screening has been required since 2021-22; districts choose tools meeting state best-practice criteria.
Help after screening
Yes
What it says
K-2 students with risk indicators must get evidence-based multisensory structured literacy from trained educators.
RCW 28A.320.260(3)-(4) (2018)
Teacher training
Partly
What it says
Intervention staff must be trained; a 2026 law revises literacy endorsement standards and teacher preparation.
RCW 28A.320.260(3)(b); Chapter 190, Laws of 2026, sections 3, 6 (2026)
Dyslexia defined in law
Yes
What it says
Law defines dyslexia as a neurological learning disorder affecting word recognition, spelling, and decoding.
RCW 28A.320.250 (2018)
State dyslexia handbook
Yes
What it says
The state publishes dyslexia guidance; a 2026 law requires periodic handbook updates.
Chapter 190, Laws of 2026, section 7; RCW 28A.300.570 (2026)
State dyslexia specialist
Partly
What it says
Regional literacy coordinators offer technical help; a permanent statewide dyslexia specialist mandate is unconfirmed.
Science of reading law
Starts September 2027
What it says
From September 1, 2027, any new or updated K-4 reading curriculum must meet evidence-based criteria, including phonics.
- Compare dyslexia laws in every state
Dyslexia testing, tutoring and support in Washington
Pick what you need.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds (opens in a new tab)
Free, confidential help resolving public-school concerns, with phone interpretation.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
ARK Institute of Learning (opens in a new tab)
Learning evaluations and individual instruction for students and adults, with need-based scholarships.
Inland Northwest Dyslexia Alliance (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations and reading intervention for ages 5 and up; donate what you can.
University of Washington LEARN Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Child and adult learning evaluations, estimated $4,000-$5,000; ask about limited reduced-fee spots.
University of Washington School Psychology Clinic (opens in a new tab)
Serves Seattle
Free learning profiles for Seattle-area students ages 8-18; not an official dyslexia diagnosis.
Winston Center (opens in a new tab)
Dyslexia evaluations and reading treatment for children and adults, in Spokane or by telehealth.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Hamlin Robinson Learning Center (opens in a new tab)
K-12 tutoring for dyslexia and learning differences, in person or online; $90 per session.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP) (opens in a new tab)
Free technology demonstrations and short-term device loans with a small fee.
Learn about dyslexia
Plain guides from trusted experts.
Washington State Dyslexia Resource Guide (2011) (opens in a new tab)
Read the 2011 dyslexia guide; use current state guidance for today's school duties.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Clark College Basic Education for Adults (opens in a new tab)
Adult reading and writing classes in southwest Washington; $25 per quarter includes textbooks.
Literacy Source (opens in a new tab)
Serves King County
Free adult reading, writing, and computer classes in King County and online.
Peninsula College Transitional Studies (opens in a new tab)
Adult reading and writing classes on the Olympic Peninsula; $25 per quarter, with aid available.
Tacoma Area Literacy Council (opens in a new tab)
Serves Pierce County
Free one-to-one adult reading and English tutoring in Pierce County.
Whatcom Literacy Council Adult Literacy Program (opens in a new tab)
Serves Whatcom County
Free, confidential reading and writing tutoring for English-speaking adults in Whatcom County.
Yakima Valley College Adult Basic Education (opens in a new tab)
Adult reading and writing classes in the Yakima Valley, with English and Spanish intake help.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
City University of Seattle Reading Endorsement (opens in a new tab)
Online teacher preparation in dyslexia, assessment, and structured literacy instruction.
Washington Regional Literacy Coordinators (opens in a new tab)
Regional school support for structured literacy, dyslexia screening, and teacher learning.
Schools for dyslexia in Washington
Each one has a documented reading program. Ask to see it.
6 of 6 shown
- Dyslexia school
Hamlin Robinson School(opens in a new tab)
Seattle · King County · Grades 1-8
Grades 1-8 school for dyslexia, with Slingerland instruction and need-based tuition assistance.
Financial aid - Public districtExtra reading help
Longview School District(opens in a new tab)
Longview · Cowlitz County
Fundations phonics in K-3 classrooms; SPIRE reading lessons in elementary life-skills classes.
- Public districtExtra reading help
Bellevue School District(opens in a new tab)
Bellevue · King County
K-2 reading-risk screening and targeted Heggerty or UFLI lessons when intervention is needed.
Screens for dyslexia - PrivateClassroom program
Charles Wright Academy Lower School(opens in a new tab)
Tacoma · Pierce County · Grades K-4
Private K-4 school that teaches early reading with Fundations phonics; not a dyslexia school.
- Public districtClassroom program
Lake Washington School District(opens in a new tab)
Redmond · King County
FastBridge reading-risk screening and structured literacy; ask your school about intervention.
Screens for dyslexia - Public district
Seattle Public Schools(opens in a new tab)
Seattle · King County
K-2 reading-risk screening information and a public office for dyslexia questions.
Screens for dyslexiaDyslexia contact
Dyslexia help by county in Washington
Local schools, groups, and services in each guide.
How Washington 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.
Washington dyslexia questions
Is a screening result a dyslexia diagnosis?
No. K-2 screening identifies risk and guides instruction; it is not a diagnostic evaluation.
SourceMust we finish intervention before asking for an evaluation?
No. Schools cannot delay or deny an evaluation for suspected disability because of tiered intervention, or require a medical diagnosis first.
SourceWhat happens after a screening concern?
The district must provide structured literacy intervention and tell you the support plan and progress. Continued concerns after intervention require a recommendation for evaluation.
SourceDoes dyslexia automatically qualify a student for an IEP?
No. The school evaluates disability, its effect on education, and the need for specially designed instruction; a Section 504 plan may provide access supports instead.
SourceDoes the 2026 law replace every reading program now?
No. Evidence-aligned criteria apply from September 1, 2027 when K-4 literacy curricula are purchased or updated, not as an immediate statewide replacement deadline.
SourceWhere can I get free help with an IEP or 504 plan in Washington?
Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE) (253-565-2266) and Disability Rights Washington (800-562-2702) help families for free, by phone or in meetings with the school.
Can someone with dyslexia get free audiobooks in Washington?
Yes. Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (800-542-0866) lends free audiobooks to readers whose dyslexia makes print hard to read.
How well do students read in Washington?
In 2024, 32% of Washington 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 (11)
- WAC 392-172A-01050: Day definitions
- Washington procedural safeguards
- About the state education agency
- RCW 28A.320.260
- Chapter 190, Laws of 2026 — K-4 curriculum purchase/update trigger, not replacement by that date. Sections 4-5 extend to charter/state-tribal compact schools. Effective June 11, 2026.
- RCW 28A.320.250
- Dyslexia Guidance (2024)
- Regional literacy support — Regional assistance, not a mandated statewide specialist position. RCW 28A.300.710 advisory council provision expired August 1, 2023.
- WAC 392-172A-03005 — Parent-agreed documented extensions; repeated failure/refusal to produce student; transfers with prompt progress and an agreed specific completion date. School days are days with instruction.
- WAC 392-172A-03105 — No fixed service-start day count. Initial consent is addressed in the procedural safeguards.
- WAC 392-172A-05005 — Disagreement with a district evaluation; agency criteria apply. Must fund without unnecessary delay or initiate hearing within 15 calendar days. Mediation, complaints and due process also available.
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.
Dyslexia resources in every state