Texas Dyslexia Laws & Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get an official dyslexia diagnosis for my child in Texas?
A: In Texas, you have two primary pathways to secure a formal dyslexia identification: a free public school evaluation or a private clinical evaluation.
1. The Public School Route (Free & Legal Pathway):
Under the Texas Dyslexia Handbook and federal law (IDEA), you have the legal right to request a formal evaluation through your local public school district at any time—even if your child is homeschooled or attends a private school.
- The Request: Send a formal, written letter (via email for a timestamped paper trail) to your school principal or counselor. Use these exact words: “I am requesting a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) under IDEA for suspected dyslexia and related disorders.”
- The Timeline: By law, the school has 15 school days to respond and get your written consent. Once you sign that consent, they have 45 school days to complete the comprehensive testing at no cost to you.
- The Result: A specialized team will review the results with you in an ARD committee meeting. If identified, your child receives official documentation that unlocks classroom accommodations and specialized instruction.
2. The Private Clinical Route (Paid Pathway):
You can bypass the school system entirely by paying out-of-pocket for a private evaluation through a licensed psychologist, educational diagnostician, or pediatric neuropsychologist. While this route bypasses school timelines, public schools are only required to consider private reports; they are not legally mandated to accept them automatically.
How I Support You Through This Process:
Navigating school data can feel like learning a foreign language. While I am an educational interventionist and do not diagnose children myself, I routinely help parents review school data, decode evaluation timelines, and provide the gold-standard MTA structured literacy instruction your child needs—regardless of whether you are still waiting on testing or already have an official diagnosis in hand!
Q: Do you support bilingual students and Emergent Bilingual (EB) learners?
A: Yes, absolutely. Dyslexia looks different in a child who is learning or speaking multiple languages, and it is frequently misidentified or missed entirely in bilingual students. Because I am ESL Certified with over 10 years of public school experience, I specialize in identifying exactly where reading gaps are happening—whether your child primarily communicates in English, Spanish, or Hakka Chin. We use evidence-based multisensory techniques to support our Emergent Bilingual students, making their language development safe, low-stress, and successful.
Q: Do you speak Spanish or Hakka Chin?
A:I am a native English speaker and conduct all student tutoring sessions in English. While I do not speak Spanish or Hakka Chin fluently, I am fully committed to supporting our local multicultural families. I utilize Google Translate for all text messaging, emails, and written educational updates so that parents and guardians can communicate with me comfortably in their preferred language. For phone or video consultations, parents are always welcome and encouraged to invite a bilingual family member, friend, or community advocate to translate so we can work together seamlessly as a team
Q: ¿Ofrece apoyo para familias que hablan español?
A: ¡Sí! Entiendo que navegar por el sistema escolar de Texas (como las reuniones de ARD, los comités LPAC o los planes 504) puede ser confuso y abrumador para las familias de nuestros Estudiantes Bilingües Emergentes (EB). Aunque la intervención de lectura estructurada (MTA) se imparte en inglés para apoyar directamente el éxito académico de su hijo en el salón de clases, yo ofrezco consultas y comunicación constante en español. Mi meta es que usted, como padre, se sienta completamente escuchado, informado y respetado como un miembro fundamental en el equipo de aprendizaje de su hijo.
Q: Do you offer support for Hakka Chin-speaking families?
A: Yes. Our local North Texas community is home to a wonderful Chin population, and I am proud to provide a welcoming, safe space for your children. While our structured reading lessons are taught in English to directly help your child thrive in their school classrooms, I am fully committed to working patiently alongside Hakka Chin-speaking parents. I provide clear, broken-down educational updates and welcome family translators or community advocates to our consultation calls so we can work together as a team.
Q: Can a Texas public school pull my child out of their English class or recess for dyslexia intervention?
A:No, Texas law does not mandate that your child must miss recess or their primary English (ELAR) class for dyslexia services.
Under federal special education law (IDEA) and Texas House Bill 3928, all dyslexia services are classified as Specially Designed Instruction. Exactly when and where your child receives their dyslexia intervention is decided entirely by their ARD Committee—which includes you, the parent.
The school cannot legally take away your child’s recess, lunch, or core learning time. However, due to severe public school scheduling and staffing crunches, many districts default to pulling students out during their primary English block simply because they do not have open blocks during the day.
This creates a dangerous “double deficit.” Your child misses core grade-level vocabulary, writing instruction, and reading comprehension with their peers, falling even further behind. Furthermore, being pulled away from friends creates immense social anxiety and emotional burnout.
How I Help Protect Your Child’s Day:
I grew up as a multiply neurodivergent student (dyslexic, dysgraphic, autistic, and ADHD) who was pulled out of recess in kindergarten and first grade to practice reading cards in a lonely library. I watched my friends play through the window, and I know exactly how much that hurts. Kids should just be kids.
By partnering with me for MTA and Orton-Gillingham intervention outside of school hours, you protect your child’s school day. They get to stay in class with their peers, keep their recess, and still get elite, neuroscience-backed dyslexia intervention from a veteran Texas certified teacher and practitioner-in-training.