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Florida requires universal dyslexia screening for all public school students in kindergarten through third grade as part of a coordinated, computer-adaptive screening and progress monitoring system. Screening happens three times per year — not once. If a student's results indicate characteristics of dyslexia, the school must conduct additional, more detailed screening.
Below is a plain-language explanation of your state's policies.
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Florida has one of the most established and most aggressive dyslexia identification systems in the country. If your child was just flagged, you're in a state where the law is unusually specific about what schools must do — and unusually strict about when they have to do it.
The most important thing to know upfront: in Florida, "immediately" means immediately. Once your child is identified, the school is required by law to begin intensive reading support right away — not at the next grading period, not after an evaluation is completed, not after a meeting is scheduled. This page explains what that means for your family and what you can do if it isn't happening.
Under Florida Statutes §1008.25, every student in kindergarten through third grade participates in a coordinated, computer-adaptive screening and progress monitoring system three times per year. This isn't a one-time annual test — it tracks your child's reading development across the school year and adjusts based on their responses.
The screener your child takes: Since the 2022-23 school year, Florida's K-2 statewide screener is FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking), administered using Renaissance Learning's Star Early Literacy and Star Reading assessments. FAST is required by statute for all public school districts — this isn't a district-choice system for kindergarten through second grade. Every Florida public school K-2 student takes FAST three times a year (called PM1, PM2, and PM3 — progress monitoring windows 1 through 3).
If your child's FAST results show characteristics of dyslexia, the school is required to conduct additional, more detailed screening before determining next steps. For this second layer of screening, districts may use tools like DIBELS/mCLASS, i-Ready, the CORE Phonics Survey, or others specified in their annual Comprehensive Evidence-Based Reading Plan (CERP). The specific supplemental tool your child is assessed with may vary by district.
For grades 3 and above: Third graders participate in both FAST (grades 3-10 use a different FAST format) and the district's chosen progress monitoring approach. If you have a question about which tools your child's school uses for additional dyslexia screening, ask the reading specialist or the school's exceptional student education (ESE) contact.
Using the Stridable screening tool: If you received FAST results, select "FAST (Star Early Literacy / Star Reading)" from the screener list. If your child received supplemental screening afterward and you're not sure which tool was used, select "Other / not sure" — the tool will walk you through results based on the areas flagged (phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and so on) rather than the specific instrument.
A note on opt-out: Florida statute does not clearly specify whether parents can opt their child out of the FAST screener. Contact your district's student services office for guidance. Early identification is in your child's interest — the sooner a reading difference is identified, the sooner support can begin.
If your child's screening shows characteristics of dyslexia or a substantial reading difficulty, you will be notified in writing. Florida law requires that this notification happen promptly — as soon as the deficiency is identified, not at the end of the grading period and not after a meeting is scheduled.
The notification you receive should include:
What these results are not: A screening result showing characteristics of dyslexia is not a diagnosis. It means your child's results indicate they may benefit from more intensive reading support and possibly a more thorough evaluation. Dyslexia looks different in every child — the screening is the beginning of understanding how your child's brain processes reading, not the final word.
After initial notification, Florida law requires the school to update you at least monthly on your child's progress in response to the reading support they're receiving. You can also request more frequent updates or ask for a meeting to discuss progress at any time.
Florida's law is unusually specific about the timeline for reading support — and unusually strict. Once your child is identified as having a substantial reading deficiency or characteristics of dyslexia, the school must begin intensive reading support immediately. Not after the next grading period. Not after an IEP is completed. Not after a specialist is scheduled. Immediately.
That support must be:
Florida law also requires the school to develop an individualized progress monitoring plan within 45 days of results being available. That plan must include the specific reading skill deficiency identified, goals and benchmarks for growth, how progress will be measured, and what evidence-based reading instruction the student will receive.
If you submit a professional diagnosis: If you bring documentation from a licensed psychologist or physician showing your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, the school must begin evidence-based reading support immediately upon receiving that documentation — it cannot wait for the school's own evaluation to be completed.
If the school isn't following through: Florida law requires monthly written progress updates. If you aren't receiving them, ask in writing. If support hasn't started after identification, put your concern in writing to the principal. Document everything — dates, conversations, responses. You have the right to request a meeting at any time.
Right to prompt notification. You must be notified in writing as soon as your child is identified — not at report card time.
Right to immediate reading support. Florida law requires intensive, explicit, systematic, and multisensory reading support to begin immediately after identification. This is one of the strongest intervention timelines in the country.
Right to monthly progress updates. After support begins, the school must communicate with you in writing at least monthly. You can request more frequent updates or earlier escalation to additional supports.
Right to a full evaluation. Under federal law (IDEA — the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), you can request a full evaluation to determine whether your child qualifies for special education services. The school must respond to your written request and either conduct the evaluation or provide a written explanation for declining. This evaluation is free.
Right to a 504 Plan or IEP. Depending on what an evaluation shows, your child may qualify for a 504 Plan (accommodations that level the playing field) or an IEP (Individualized Education Program — a more comprehensive plan that includes specialized instruction). Florida follows federal IDEA requirements for both.
Florida's FES-UA scholarship. Florida offers the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), established in 2021 under Florida Statutes §1002.394, which replaced the McKay Scholarship in 2022. FES-UA provides an Education Savings Account (ESA) that can be used for private school tuition, private tutoring, assistive technology, specialized therapy, and other approved educational services. Dyslexia is explicitly listed as a qualifying disability.
To be eligible, your child must have either a current IEP or a qualifying disability diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist. A 504 plan alone is not sufficient — if your child has only a 504, you would also need a formal diagnosis document to apply. Parents apply through one of the state's approved non-profit scholarship funding organizations (SFOs), not through FDOE directly. The average scholarship is approximately $10,000, with the amount varying by grade level, county, and individual need. There is a participation cap (approximately 70,000 students for 2024-25, increasing annually), so applying early matters. Note that students receiving FES-UA ESA funds cannot simultaneously attend a public school — accepting the scholarship means leaving the public school system and its FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) entitlement behind. For current eligibility requirements, program details, and application information, visit FDOE's school choice page or contact one of the approved SFOs directly.
Stridable is an educational resource, not a legal service. For specific situations — particularly if you're facing pushback from your school or considering a formal complaint — consider reaching out to a parent advocate or educational attorney.
For a deeper look at how federal law applies to private school students with dyslexia, see our article My Child Has Dyslexia and Goes to Private School — What Are My Options?
Florida Department of Education — Just Read, Florida! Florida's dyslexia and literacy guidance lives inside the Just Read, Florida! program. This is the primary state resource for parents and educators. fldoe.org/academics/standards/just-read-fl
FDOE — FES-UA Scholarship Information Information on the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, including eligibility, approved scholarship funding organizations, and how to apply. fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/fes
FDOE — Reading Endorsement and Dyslexia Training Requirements Details on what Florida teachers are required to know about dyslexia identification and structured literacy instruction. fldoe.org/academics/standards/just-read-fl/reading-endorsement.stml
Florida Statutes §1008.25 The full text of Florida's reading deficiency and parental notification law. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/1008.25
Decoding Dyslexia Florida Parent-led advocacy organization active in Florida's legislative process and a good source for current policy news and parent community connections. decodingdyslexiafl.org
IDA Florida Branch The International Dyslexia Association's Florida chapter. Provides resources for families, referrals to specialists, and information about the Reading Endorsement. florida.dyslexiaida.org
State of Dyslexia — Florida Maintained by the National Center on Improving Literacy. A regularly updated overview of Florida's legislation, certification requirements, and state resources. stateofdyslexia.org/florida
Last verified: June 3, 2026
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