Dyslexia laws by state
What federal law says about dyslexia, what each state adds, and what to ask the school for.
What federal law says
Under IDEA, dyslexia is one example of a specific learning disability, one of the categories a child can qualify under. In 2015 the U.S. Department of Education told schools that nothing in IDEA stops them from using the words dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia in evaluations, eligibility decisions and IEPs.
A child with dyslexia is not automatically eligible for an IEPIndividualized Education Program: a written plan for a child's special education services at school.. The team must find a specific learning disability and a need for specially designed instruction. A child who does not need an IEP may still qualify for a Section 504 plan.
Schools cannot make you wait for a reading program like RTI or MTSS to finish before evaluating. What to say if you hear "we do not use that word".
The law: 34 CFR 300.8(c)(10); 300.307; 300.309
What each state adds
36 of the 50 states and DC require dyslexia screening in the early grades. Many also require teacher training, a dyslexia handbook or a specialist in each district. Screening is not the same as an evaluation: if a screening flags a concern, you can still ask for a full evaluation in writing.
Good to know: this page is general information in plain language. It is not legal advice. Your state may add rules. For free help, call your parent center.
| State | Screening required | What the state requires | State law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | State Board dyslexia rule requires K-3 universal screening for characteristics of dyslexia (Ala. Admin. Code 290-3-1-.02); Alabama Literacy Act 2019 K-3 screening | State Board dyslexia rule requires K-3 universal screening for characteristics of dyslexia (Ala. Admin. Code 290-3-1-.02); Alabama Literacy Act 2019 K-3 screening |
| Alaska | Yes | Alaska Reads Act (2022), AS 14.30.765; 4 AAC 06.400 statewide K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia | Alaska Reads Act (2022), AS 14.30.765; 4 AAC 06.400 statewide K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia |
| Arizona | Yes | A.R.S. 15-704: K-3 universal screening incl. dyslexia | A.R.S. 15-704: K-3 universal screening incl. dyslexia |
| Arkansas | Yes | Ark. Code 6-41-603: K-2 screening for characteristics of dyslexia (and others on indicators) | Ark. Code 6-41-603: K-2 screening for characteristics of dyslexia (and others on indicators) |
| California | Yes | Ed. Code 53008 (SB 114, 2023): universal K-2 screening for risk of reading difficulties incl. dyslexia, from 2025-26 | Ed. Code 53008 (SB 114, 2023): universal K-2 screening for risk of reading difficulties incl. dyslexia, from 2025-26 |
| Colorado | Yes | SB 25-200: annual K-3 dyslexia screening beginning 2027-28 (not yet in effect) | SB 25-200: annual K-3 dyslexia screening beginning 2027-28 (not yet in effect) |
| Connecticut | Yes | C.G.S. 10-14t: K-3 universal reading assessments identifying students at risk incl. dyslexia characteristics | C.G.S. 10-14t: K-3 universal reading assessments identifying students at risk incl. dyslexia characteristics |
| Delaware | Yes | SB 4 (151st GA, 2021): universal K-3 screening for dyslexia/reading difficulties | SB 4 (151st GA, 2021): universal K-3 screening for dyslexia/reading difficulties |
| District of Columbia | Yes | D.C. Law 23-191 Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020: K-2 screening at least twice yearly | D.C. Law 23-191 Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020: K-2 screening at least twice yearly |
| Florida | Partly | s. 1008.25 F.S.: universal K-3 progress monitoring (FAST); dyslexia characteristics screening tied to students with substantial reading deficiency | s. 1008.25 F.S.: universal K-3 progress monitoring (FAST); dyslexia characteristics screening tied to students with substantial reading deficiency |
| Georgia | Yes | O.C.G.A. 20-2-159.6 (SB 48, 2019): K-3 screening for characteristics of dyslexia | O.C.G.A. 20-2-159.6 (SB 48, 2019): K-3 screening for characteristics of dyslexia |
| Hawaii | No | No statutory screening mandate (SCR 120, 2013 only) | No statutory screening mandate (SCR 120, 2013 only) |
| Idaho | Yes | HB 731 (2022), Idaho Code 33-1810/33-1811: IRI K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia | HB 731 (2022), Idaho Code 33-1810/33-1811: IRI K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia |
| Illinois | No | PA 103-0402 (literacy plan guidance) and PA 104-0389 (2025, K-3 screening reporting only); universal screening mandate removed from enacted SB 1672 | PA 103-0402 (literacy plan guidance) and PA 104-0389 (2025, K-3 screening reporting only); universal screening mandate removed from enacted SB 1672 |
| Indiana | Yes | IC 20-35.5-2: K-2 universal dyslexia risk screening | IC 20-35.5-2: K-2 universal dyslexia risk screening |
| Iowa | Partly | Iowa Code 279.68: universal K-3 reading screening; not dyslexia-specific in statute | Iowa Code 279.68: universal K-3 reading screening; not dyslexia-specific in statute |
| Kansas | Partly | KSBE/KSDE dyslexia screening protocol required by state board (not statute) | KSBE/KSDE dyslexia screening protocol required by state board (not statute) |
| Kentucky | Yes | KRS 158.307 and SB 9 (2022) Read to Succeed: universal K-3 screener incl. dyslexia indicators | KRS 158.307 and SB 9 (2022) Read to Succeed: universal K-3 screener incl. dyslexia indicators |
| Louisiana | Yes | La. R.S. 17:24.10 and 17:392.1: K-3 literacy screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia | La. R.S. 17:24.10 and 17:392.1: K-3 literacy screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia |
| Maine | Yes | 20-A M.R.S. 4710-B: K-2 screening for dyslexia | 20-A M.R.S. 4710-B: K-2 screening for dyslexia |
| Maryland | Yes | Educ. 4-136 (Ready to Read Act, 2019): K screening, grades 1-3 as needed, for reading difficulties incl. dyslexia | Educ. 4-136 (Ready to Read Act, 2019): K screening, grades 1-3 as needed, for reading difficulties incl. dyslexia |
| Massachusetts | Yes | G.L. c.71 s.57A and 2023 DESE early literacy screening regulation: K-3 screening twice yearly incl. dyslexia risk | G.L. c.71 s.57A and 2023 DESE early literacy screening regulation: K-3 screening twice yearly incl. dyslexia risk |
| Michigan | Yes | MCL 380.1280f (2024 PA 146/147): universal K-3 dyslexia screening from 2027-28 (not yet in effect) | MCL 380.1280f (2024 PA 146/147): universal K-3 dyslexia screening from 2027-28 (not yet in effect) |
| Minnesota | Yes | Minn. Stat. 120B.12 subd. 2a: K-2 screening for characteristics of dyslexia (READ Act) | Minn. Stat. 120B.12 subd. 2a: K-2 screening for characteristics of dyslexia (READ Act) |
| Mississippi | Yes | Miss. Code 37-173-15: dyslexia screening in spring of K and fall of grade 1 | Miss. Code 37-173-15: dyslexia screening in spring of K and fall of grade 1 |
| Missouri | Yes | RSMo 167.950: K-3 dyslexia screening | RSMo 167.950: K-3 dyslexia screening |
| Montana | Yes | SB 140 (2019), MCA 20-7-14xx: dyslexia screening in first year of enrollment K-3 | SB 140 (2019), MCA 20-7-14xx: dyslexia screening in first year of enrollment K-3 |
| Nebraska | Partly | Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-2603: K-3 reading assessments three times a year; not dyslexia-specific | Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-2603: K-3 reading assessments three times a year; not dyslexia-specific |
| Nevada | Yes | Read by Grade 3 / NRS ch. 388: K-3 screening incl. dyslexia indicators | Read by Grade 3 / NRS ch. 388: K-3 screening incl. dyslexia indicators |
| New Hampshire | Yes | RSA 200:59: screening for dyslexia in K and grade 1 (grades 2-3 if not screened) | RSA 200:59: screening for dyslexia in K and grade 1 (grades 2-3 if not screened) |
| New Jersey | Yes | N.J.S.A. 18A:40-5.1 to 5.4: K-2 screening for dyslexia by end of first semester of grade 2 | N.J.S.A. 18A:40-5.1 to 5.4: K-2 screening for dyslexia by end of first semester of grade 2 |
| New Mexico | Yes | NMSA 22-13-32: universal grade 1 dyslexia screening | NMSA 22-13-32: universal grade 1 dyslexia screening |
| New York | No | No statewide dyslexia screening mandate | No statewide dyslexia screening mandate |
| North Carolina | Partly | G.S. 115C-83.6: K-3 diagnostic reading assessments; HB 149 (2017) dyslexia tool review only | G.S. 115C-83.6: K-3 diagnostic reading assessments; HB 149 (2017) dyslexia tool review only |
| North Dakota | Partly | HB 1461 (2019), NDCC 15.1-32-26: reading screening must include phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling; dyslexia risk screening only via pilot | HB 1461 (2019), NDCC 15.1-32-26: reading screening must include phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling; dyslexia risk screening only via pilot |
| Ohio | Yes | ORC 3323.251 (HB 436, 2020): tier 1 dyslexia screening K-3 from 2022-23 | ORC 3323.251 (HB 436, 2020): tier 1 dyslexia screening K-3 from 2022-23 |
| Oklahoma | Partly | Reading Sufficiency Act / Strong Readers Act: K-3 reading-deficiency screening; dyslexia not explicit | Reading Sufficiency Act / Strong Readers Act: K-3 reading-deficiency screening; dyslexia not explicit |
| Oregon | Yes | ORS 326.726: K and grade 1 dyslexia risk screening | ORS 326.726: K and grade 1 dyslexia risk screening |
| Pennsylvania | Partly | Act 47 of 2025 (24 P.S. Art. XV-N): universal K-3 literacy screening three times a year from 2027-28; not dyslexia-specific | Act 47 of 2025 (24 P.S. Art. XV-N): universal K-3 literacy screening three times a year from 2027-28; not dyslexia-specific |
| Rhode Island | Partly | R.I. Gen. Laws 16-67-2: readiness screening in literacy and math for all children at first school entry; dyslexia-targeted strategies when appropriate; no K-3 dyslexia screening mandate (Chiara's Law H 7608 of 2022 not enacted) | R.I. Gen. Laws 16-67-2 requires a school-entry readiness screening in literacy and math for all children and dyslexia strategies when appropriate; no dyslexia-specific K-3 screening mandate (Chiara's Law H 7608 of 2022 and later bills not enacted) |
| South Carolina | Yes | S.C. Code 59-155-150 (Read to Succeed): universal K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia | S.C. Code 59-155-150 (Read to Succeed): universal K-3 screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia |
| South Dakota | No | SDCL 13-37-28.1 defines dyslexia; no screening mandate | SDCL 13-37-28.1 defines dyslexia; no screening mandate |
| Tennessee | Yes | T.C.A. 49-1-229 (Say Dyslexia Act, 2016): universal screening for characteristics of dyslexia via RTI2 | T.C.A. 49-1-229 (Say Dyslexia Act, 2016): universal screening for characteristics of dyslexia via RTI2 |
| Texas | Yes | TEC 38.003: dyslexia screening at end of K and grade 1 | TEC 38.003: dyslexia screening at end of K and grade 1 |
| Utah | Yes | Utah Code early literacy benchmark assessment (Acadience) K-3 with dyslexia risk screening (HB 242, 2019) | Utah Code early literacy benchmark assessment (Acadience) K-3 with dyslexia risk screening (HB 242, 2019) |
| Vermont | Partly | Act 139 (2024), 16 V.S.A. 2907: universal K-3 evidence-based literacy screeners for reading difficulty risk; dyslexia not explicit | Act 139 (2024), 16 V.S.A. 2907: universal K-3 evidence-based literacy screeners for reading difficulty risk; dyslexia not explicit |
| Virginia | Yes | Virginia Literacy Act and SB 352 (2024): K-3 universal literacy screening for students at risk incl. dyslexia | Virginia Literacy Act and SB 352 (2024): K-3 universal literacy screening for students at risk incl. dyslexia |
| Washington | Yes | RCW 28A.320.260: K-2 screening for weaknesses associated with dyslexia | RCW 28A.320.260: K-2 screening for weaknesses associated with dyslexia |
| West Virginia | Yes | W. Va. Code 18-2E-10 (Third Grade Success Act, 2023): K-3 screening incl. dyslexia | W. Va. Code 18-2E-10 (Third Grade Success Act, 2023): K-3 screening incl. dyslexia |
| Wisconsin | Partly | 2023 Wis. Act 20, Wis. Stat. 118.016: universal 4K-3 early literacy screening; dyslexia not explicit | 2023 Wis. Act 20, Wis. Stat. 118.016: universal 4K-3 early literacy screening; dyslexia not explicit |
| Wyoming | Yes | W.S. 21-3-401 (2018): K-3 universal screening for reading difficulties incl. dyslexia | W.S. 21-3-401 (2018): K-3 universal screening for reading difficulties incl. dyslexia |
Sources: state statutes and rules as summarized by ConnectIDD research, November 2026, cross checked with stateofdyslexia.org. Laws change; check with your state education agency. Tell us about a change.
What to ask for
- A full evaluation that looks at phonological awareness, decoding, reading fluency, spelling and written expression.
- If your child qualifies, specially designed instruction in reading, often called structured literacy, with how often and who teaches it written in the IEP.
- Accommodations such as audiobooks, text to speech and extra time, alongside reading instruction, not instead of it.
- Progress data you can read, at least as often as report cards.
Write an evaluation request letter, or find schools for learning disabilities.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.