Ask an Expert: Judy Goddess
Using California School Law To Advocate For Your Kids

To what extent is my dyslexic daughter's school supposed to help her learn?

This past fall my fourth-grade daughter was diagnosed as dyslexic, and she has been struggling in her classes. So far the school has simply told us to hire a tutor to re-teach what our daughter is trying to learn in class. Given that about 15 percent of the population has dyslexia to varying degrees, I would have expected the public school system to be better able to identify and assist dyslexic students. How can I get the school to provide the help my daughter needs?

Your best hope is to file a written request with the school asking that your daughter be tested for placement in special education. The school has 15 calendar days to respond to your request—that is, to develop an evaluation plan to assess whether your daughter needs special education. The school must give you a copy of the plan to review, along with an explanation of your rights as a parent who has requested special education services.

Even though you probably will not be familiar with the proposed tests, you'll want to make sure that the assessment plan identifyies your daughter's skills, learning style, and problem areas. You will have at least 15 days to review and approve the plan, or to suggest modifications in the assessment design. Testing will occur only after you have given your written consent.

When the tests have been scored, the school will invite you to a meeting to discuss the results. If you approved the assessment plan in 15 days or less, the meeting must be scheduled no more than 50 days after the school received your first written request. After jointly reviewing the assessment results, you and the school are responsible for developing an IEP, or Individualized Education Program, tailored to meet your daughter needs and skills.

Remember: you want to understand what the results mean, so ask questions. The IEP identifies the instructional and other services to be provided by the school, along with skills your daughter is expected to learn over the coming year. While one meeting may be sufficient to develop the IEP, it may be necessary—and you have the right—to request repeated meetings until you and the school have agreed on an appropriate IEP. You also have the right to have an outside assessor evaluate your daughter. You may introduce these results, and bring the assessor, to the meeting.

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