Dyslexia Screenings in Early Education

Takeaways

• Many students in the United States struggle with reading, and a significant percentage may have dyslexia, a learning disability affecting reading and related language skills.
• Early identification of dyslexia through screenings, as early as age 5, is crucial for better outcomes and self-esteem for students.
• Colorado is the latest state to enact a law requiring dyslexia screenings for K-3 students, which will take effect by the 2027-2028 school year, joining most states that mandate similar screenings.
• Dyslexia screenings help to flag students for early intervention, support, and potential formal diagnosis.

The National Literacy Institute (NLI) estimates that 40 percent of students in the United States struggle with reading, a gateway skill necessary for academic and professional success.

Up to one in five students may have dyslexia, a learning disability affecting reading. Children with dyslexia can benefit from additional support and accommodations to help them reach their academic potential.

As the University of Michigan asserts, dyslexia can be assessed and diagnosed as early as age 5, and early intervention can improve outcomes for students, including better self-esteem.

One long-standing myth regarding dyslexia was that diagnosing it before the third grade was not possible. However, many professionals now consider this thinking outdated. Currently, about 40 states require early dyslexia screenings from kindergarten to second grade.

A recently enacted Colorado law will require education providers to screen children from kindergarten to third grade for dyslexia by the 2027-2028 school year. Although teachers cannot diagnose dyslexia formally, screenings at school can help flag students who may have characteristics of the learning disability.

According to the bill, supporting children with dyslexia can prevent them from falling behind. Identifying these students is the first step to helping them access the resources and support that could lead to better academic outcomes.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that can make reading and related language skills more challenging. It is a common misconception that dyslexia involves mixing up letters in words. In reality, people with dyslexia have trouble understanding how sounds relate to letters and groups of letters in words. These deficits with phonemic awareness can also lead to struggles with pronunciation and spelling.

According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, an estimated 20 percent of people have dyslexia and make up 80 to 90 percent of those with learning disabilities. Dyslexia is the most common neurocognitive disability.

Dyslexia is not related to intelligence, per the University of Michigan. With proper support and intervention, students with dyslexia can be successful at school.

What Do Dyslexia Screenings Entail?

Dyslexia screenings do not provide diagnoses. They are targeted assessments that identify students who show traits associated with dyslexia, such as difficulties with phonetics, word decoding, and sound-symbol awareness. This allows them to receive early, targeted interventions at school and follow-up with a comprehensive dyslexia intervention for a formal diagnosis.

Colorado’s dyslexia screening bill states that the literacy assessments already required by the state’s READ Act can miss key markers of dyslexia. Students with dyslexia who present with solid reading skills could pass because they had developed strategies to mask their dyslexia.

A dyslexia screening focuses on the areas associated with dyslexia, which include sound-symbol knowledge, rapid naming, and word encoding and decoding.

While a dyslexia screener assessment does not diagnose dyslexia, it can flag students for further assessment by a professional. Professionals who can diagnose dyslexia include educational psychologists as well as neurologists and other medical professionals. Teachers who are aware that a student struggles with reading and may have a learning disability can connect them with resources and help them implement strategies to make reading easier.

State Screening Mandates

Most states as well as the District of Columbia require universal dyslexia screenings in early childhood education, typically from kindergarten to second grade. As mentioned above, Colorado will require them beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Meanwhile, the following states do not yet mandate these types of screenings, although this is currently evolving:

• California (However, in 2023, the state adopted a law requiring early screenings that will begin this fall for the 2025-2026 school year, per Education Week.)
• Hawaii (A bill focused on implementing a universal screening mandate was introduced earlier this year.)
• Kentucky
• Michigan (Screening is slated to begin in the 2017-2028 school year.)
• Nebraska
• New York
• South Dakota (State legislators have introduced a bill in the House that seeks to mandate dyslexia screenings.)
• Vermont (The state passed related legislation in 2024.)

How Early Dyslexia Screenings Can Help Students

Dyslexia screenings can help identify students who may be at risk for this learning disability and ensure that they receive early intervention. Colorado’s law, for example, requires that teachers come up with a plan to help students who are identified as potentially dyslexic.

Screenings can also open a line of communication between teachers and families, promoting partnerships for students’ success. Under Colorado’s new law, educators will have to inform parents and guardians when children are flagged as having risk factors for dyslexia, clearly explain the findings, and provide practical advice for how to support the student at home.

This allows parents and guardians to take on active roles in support and intervention and seek out a formal diagnosis. Families and teachers can work together to help the student, including providing accommodations, specialized support, and early intervention.

Early Intervention for Dyslexia

When a screening as early as kindergarten informs teachers and families that a student may be at risk for dyslexia, they can initiate early intervention strategies that include teaching these students new reading strategies that can improve their reading comprehension. Even before a student receives a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis, teachers can help students develop a toolkit of strategies that help with reading.

Early intervention strategies may include the following:

• a focus on training for phonological awareness, an auditory skill that allows an individuals to analyze and manipulate the sound structure of words
• structured reading programs that involve systematic instruction and repetition
• the use of assistive technology, such as audiobooks
• the measured introduction of new words
• multisensory learning, which involves combining sight and sound with touch to help students make abstract ideas concrete and absorb and contextualize information

The Impact of Dyslexia Screenings

Early screening for this learning disorder can pave the way for better academic outcomes for students with this common learning disability. With its new law, Colorado joins the vast majority of states that require these screenings. Identification in K-2 classrooms can help teachers and families support students. Armed with strategies and resources, students with dyslexia can develop foundational literacy skills that can help them achieve in the classroom and beyond.

According to the Yale Center of Dyslexia and Creativity, parents can also keep an eye out for potential signs of dyslexia in their children even before they enter school. These include paying attention to their child’s ability to name individual letters, rhyme, or pronounce words.

Finding Support

Many resources are available to support children who have dyslexia as well as their parents. These include books about overcoming dyslexia, online resources, and grassroots movements in many states. Work closely with your child’s educators to decide on the best strategies for supporting your child.

If you are looking for additional guidance in supporting a child with special education needs, contact an experienced special needs planning attorney in your area. These experts can provide legal advice and help you find services tailored to your child’s individual circumstances. This may include assisting you in advocating for their educational rights as well as in creating a comprehensive plan for their future financial security and health care needs.

If you have a school-aged child with a disability, you may also consider working with a special education advocate.