Dyslexia testing and evaluation in Minnesota
If you suspect your child has dyslexia, here is how evaluation works in Minnesota, what it costs, and what to do with the results. The most important thing to know up front: you do not need a diagnosis to start getting help.
Two ways to get your child evaluated
Most families in Minnesota use one or both of these. Neither is required before starting tutoring.
1. Your school district (free)
You have the right to request a free special-education evaluation from your child’s public school district. Put the request in writing to the school, and the district must respond within the timelines set by law.
Schools evaluate for a specific learning disability that affects reading, which can lead to an IEP or a 504 plan with support and accommodations. Minnesota’s READ Act has also increased early reading screening in schools.
2. A private evaluation (paid)
A licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist can provide a formal clinical dyslexia diagnosis through private testing. This is often more detailed than a school evaluation and can be done on your own timeline.
Private evaluations in Minnesota generally range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the provider and depth of testing. Some families use one to confirm a diagnosis the school did not name.
You do not need a diagnosis to start tutoring.
Evaluations are useful, especially for school accommodations, but waiting for one can cost months your child does not have to spare. Structured-literacy tutoring helps any child who has fallen behind in reading, diagnosis or not.
At Learn to Learn, every student begins with a free consultation and our own WIST assessment, which shows exactly where the gaps are so we start in the right place. If you later pursue a formal evaluation, we are glad to share what we see. See how we teach and the progress we measure ›
We can help you think it through.
On a free consultation we will talk through what you are seeing and whether an evaluation makes sense for your family. No cost, no pressure. See the signs of dyslexia we look for ›
Dyslexia evaluation in Minnesota, answered
How do I get my child evaluated for dyslexia in Minnesota?
There are two main paths. You can request a free special-education evaluation in writing from your child’s public school district, which the district must respond to, or you can pay for a private evaluation from a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist. You do not need either one to begin tutoring.
Does the school test for dyslexia?
Public schools evaluate for a specific learning disability that affects reading, which can lead to an IEP or a 504 plan. A formal clinical dyslexia diagnosis usually comes from a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist through a private evaluation.
How much does private dyslexia testing cost in Minnesota?
Private evaluations generally range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the provider and the depth of testing. School district evaluations are free.
Do we need a diagnosis before starting tutoring?
No. You do not need a diagnosis, an IEP, or any evaluation to begin structured-literacy tutoring at Learn to Learn. We start every student with a free consultation and our own assessment.
Worried, and not sure what comes next?
Start with a free consultation. We will help you figure out the right next step, evaluation or not.