A dyslexia evaluation may be what you need after hearing “she’ll catch up” all year and seeing the same reading struggle on every report card. Asking in writing is how you stop waiting and start getting clear answers.
What Are The Key Takeaways About A Dyslexia Evaluation?
A written request gives you a clear first step and helps keep the school conversation focused on your child’s needs.
- Request an evaluation in writing and keep a dated copy.
- Describe specific reading and spelling challenges you have noticed.
- Remember that you do not need a diagnosis or a lawyer to ask.
- Track the timeline after you provide written consent, including any state-specific deadline.
- Ask what reading instruction and accommodations will support your child’s learning.
Request a dyslexia evaluation in writing and send it to the principal and special education coordinator. You do not need a diagnosis or a lawyer to ask, and once you give written consent, federal law generally gives the school 60 days to complete testing unless your state sets a different timeline.
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Why Does Dyslexia Get Missed In Black Children?
Reading struggles can be read as behavior or as a problem at home instead of a disability.
Parents in different states and across decades have described asking for help, then being told a child was not trying, was acting out, or needed more support at home. The 74’s reporting describes these experiences and quotes Resha Conroy of the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, who says children need their reading needs addressed, not just their reactions to struggling.
A Yale-led study offers a reason to keep asking questions. Researchers screened 246 children in kindergarten through second grade at two New Orleans public charter schools. About 90 percent were African American, and 121 children, or 49.2 percent, screened at risk for dyslexia. Of the 92 at-risk children who received detailed testing, 57 had a profile consistent with dyslexia, according to the study in npj Science of Learning and Yale School of Medicine's summary of the findings.
The researchers also discussed NAEP findings showing that, over more than a decade, more than half of Black fourth graders performed below the Basic level in reading, compared with about one-fifth of white students. The 2024 NAEP reading data help show the national context. These figures do not predict what your child can do. They are a reason to make sure persistent reading struggles receive careful attention, rather than assumptions.
A screening is a first look, not a diagnosis or a promise of help. As of 2023, at least 41 states mandated universal dyslexia screening in kindergarten, but screening does not automatically provide evaluation, intervention, or accommodations. The University of Michigan data cited by The 74 also estimate that only about 10 percent of children with dyslexia receive special education services and intervention.
What Are The Signs Of Dyslexia In A Young Reader?
A pattern of difficulty with sounds, spelling, and reading words may be a reason to ask for an evaluation.
Your child might have trouble learning letter names or sounding out simple words such as “cat” or “map.” They may guess at words from the pictures, avoid reading aloud, or have messy spelling and handwriting. At the same time, they might understand and remember a story very well when someone reads it to them. That gap between what your child understands and what they can decode on the page is one of the clearest signs, and the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity’s signs list offers more examples.
One sign by itself does not confirm dyslexia. Pay attention to patterns over time, how your child responds to reading instruction, and whether reading feels much harder for them than other schoolwork. Share examples from home and ask the teacher what they see in class.
How Do You Request A Dyslexia Evaluation?
Send a dated written request to the principal and special education coordinator asking the school to evaluate your child.
You can say that you are concerned about dyslexia, describe what you have noticed, and ask for the school’s consent-to-evaluate form. For example: “I am requesting a comprehensive evaluation because my child is struggling to sound out words and spell, and I am concerned about dyslexia.” You do not need to know the exact diagnosis before asking.
Keep a dated copy of your email or letter. If you have not heard back after five days, follow up in writing. The school generally has 60 days to finish testing after you give written consent, unless your state uses a different timeline. Understood’s request guide explains practical steps for making and tracking your request.
What Should A Dyslexia Evaluation Actually Include?
A useful dyslexia evaluation should look closely at your child’s reading skills and learning needs, not just grades or behavior.
Ask how the evaluation will measure skills such as sounding out unfamiliar words, reading accuracy and fluency, spelling, and understanding spoken and written language. The team should review your child’s education history and the instruction they have received, and explain the findings in plain language. Ask whether the assessment considers your child’s language and learning background.
A single screening score is not the same as a full evaluation. If the school says reading difficulty is only due to missed instruction, ask what evidence supports that conclusion and what targeted instruction is happening now. Ask, too, for the results in writing, and for a clear answer on whether your child qualifies for special education or for accommodations under Section 504. Successful Black Parenting Magazine is a trusted resource for parents of Black children navigating school questions; our School and Education Guide can help you prepare for school conversations.
In one study of 246 Black children in kindergarten through second grade, 49 percent screened as at risk for dyslexia, and of the 92 who were tested, most had it. Know a parent who needs this? Send it to them.
What Support Should Your Child Get After A Diagnosis?
Your child should receive effective reading instruction and the accommodations they need to show what they know.
Ask the school about systematic, evidence-based reading instruction in a small group, and how it will measure progress and adjust support. Depending on your child’s needs and eligibility, accommodations may include extra time or audiobooks. These tools do not lower expectations; they can help your child access instruction and demonstrate their knowledge. As Yale dyslexia researcher Dr. Sally Shaywitz puts it, dyslexia robs a person of time and accommodations return it. Yale explains interventions, accommodations and the laws behind them in its dyslexia accommodations resource and its guide to understanding the law.
A diagnosis should help adults understand your child, not limit their future. Let your child know that needing a different way to learn does not mean they are less smart. If you want help understanding evaluation steps and school plans, read Successful Black Parenting Magazine’s guide to asking the school for an IEP evaluation.
Why This Matters For Parents Of Black Children
Early recognition can protect your child’s confidence and help keep learning support at the center of the conversation.
Reading difficulties that go unidentified can be mistaken for a lack of effort or a behavior problem. In its 2019 report, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that Black students with disabilities were nearly four times more likely than white students with disabilities to receive multiple out-of-school suspensions and twice as likely to be expelled. These figures are not specific to dyslexia and do not show that dyslexia causes discipline. They underscore why your child’s learning needs should be understood and supported, rather than reduced to a behavior label.
You can keep your advocacy clear and calm: share specific examples, ask what the school has measured, and request written explanations and next steps. If you have concerns about a child being misunderstood in other areas too, you may find our article on the ADHD diagnosis gap for Black children helpful. For broader reading encouragement, see Why Black Boys Are Turning Away From Reading.
What Do Parents Often Ask About Dyslexia?
You can ask the school direct questions and request clear answers in writing.
Will The School Test My Child If I Just Ask?
A conversation or informal request may not start the formal process. Send a written request and ask for the consent-to-evaluate form so you have a record and can decide whether to give consent.
Can A School Say My Child Is Just Behind Because Of The Pandemic Or Poverty?
The school can consider instruction and outside circumstances, but those factors should not end the inquiry if you still have concerns. Ask what information supports the school’s view and what evaluation or intervention it recommends.
Does A Diagnosis Mean My Child Leaves The General Classroom?
No. A diagnosis does not automatically determine where your child learns. Ask the team to explain what supports can help your child learn with classmates and whether your child qualifies for special education or other accommodations.
Where Can I Get Free Help With This?
Every state has a Parent Training and Information Center that helps families understand disability services and school processes. Find yours through the Center for Parent Information and Resources. The Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children also offers family programs and parent-to-parent support.
What Will You Ask For First?
One clear written request can move the conversation from “wait and see” to a plan for understanding how your child learns.
What will you ask your child’s school for first: a written evaluation, a clearer reading plan, or both?
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