DC public schools for kids with dyslexia?

[Anonymous]

I'm confident my 9 yo daughter is dyslexic but the school will not give her any special services. Are there any parents whose kids have been formally diagnosed who have had luck with DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Do you have an official diagnosis or evaluation -- either from the school or an external provider?

Why are they refusing services?

I know two people with students in DCPS who got inadequate services, fought, sued and finally ended up with a private placement at the Lab School.

In those cases, school and parents agreed there was a specific learning disability in reading and the argument was whether the specialized instruction was working.

[Anonymous]

Did you write a written letter to you proncipal stating that you believe that she is 1) dyslexic and 2) that her dyslexia is afversely affecting her education because she .... fill in the blank by describing the ways her dyslexia is creating problems... and 3) that you are requesting specialized reading instruction appropriate for dyslexia. Close by saying, therefore, I am requesting an IEP meeting and evaluation of my child as provided for under federal legislation (IDEA).

If you haven't done this, then you haven't made the official request that triggers the legal timelines and procedures that all schools must comply with under federal laws like IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA.

When you say, "they will not give her special services" -- who said that, in what context and by what means? Was it in an IEP meeting? If so, they must provide a written exanation of why they are turning you down.

Or is this just an oral conversation that you had with someone at school and they said smthg like she's not dyslexic, or she's not that bad, or we don't do that type of instruction?

We need me context to hell you.

[Anonymous]

^ Sorry that should have been "We need more context to help you."