Resources for Concerned Families

(Ages 5+)

Remember that with the right support and enough practice, nearly every child can learn to read. Each child will make progress at a different pace. But, here are some signs to watch for that a school-aged child may struggle with reading.

Has not been able to master letters and sounds, despite practicing at home and school.
When trying to read, they make guesses that don’t resemble the word on the page.
After repeatedly practicing sight words, they cannot recall them or commit them to memory.
Your child was a “late talker” as a toddler.
List Cannot sound out or blend sounds, shows intense frustration or avoidance when asked to try.
By the end of Kindergarten, your child’s writing does not match words in any way to the sounds of the actual words. The word “dog” might be spelled “fxtsi.”
Child appears to “hate” reading and avoids practicing.
There are members of the family that also describe having extreme difficulty with reading.

CONCERNED YOUR CHILD ISN'T MEETING THE MILESTONES?

If your child is not meeting the literacy milestones for their grade-level, here are a few steps to start with:

1. Make sure it's not something else

Schedule comprehensive vision and hearing exams.

2. Gather your information

Observe what your child is struggling with and what they’re doing well at. Focus and highlight your child’s strengths so they know they are more than their reading difficulties. Your child needs to know that you believe in them.

Review the Reading Skills Overview page to see if you can identify what skills they are struggling with.

3. Request a Meeting with the Teacher

Questions to Ask:

What literacy milestones has my child mastered, and which are they struggling with?
Is my child reading on grade level? What are you working on at school to get them up to grade level?
How can I support at home?

4. Give it a little time

Allow some time for the teacher and school to implement the interventions. Support your child at home however you can.

Don’t stop reading aloud to your child because you see them struggling on their own. Storytelling is central to human existence. Just because they are grappling with the mechanics, they still need the pleasure and experience of being immersed in a good book.

5. Request a team meeting

If you’re still not seeing progress, request a meeting at school – often called a Coordination of Services Team (COST) or a Student Success Team Meeting (SST).

Share your concerns and ask what additional resources that may be available through your school.

6. Request an assessment

If you’re still not seeing progress after implementing the plan from the SST, you may want to request an assessment in writing.

An assessment is a comprehensive set of tests and observations about your child’s learning abilities, to determine if they have a learning difference that may qualify them for extra services.

How to REquest an Assessment for Your Child over 5 Years Old

Keep in mind that an assessment should be done after trying other interventions in the classroom or with a specialist at the school.

Make sure that you’ve met with your child’s teacher and keep track of what they’ve already tried. If your child is still not making progress, it may be time to request an assessment.

Learn more about requesting an assessment

If your child goes to public school or a charter school

If your child is enrolled in Kindergarten or an older grade, they can be assessed for special education eligibility and services at their school.

Communicate your concerns with your child’s teachers in writing and ask for next steps.

Please include the following:

Name of Student
Date of Birth
Home Address
Grade
School Name
School Address
Reason why the student needs an assessment. Include details about what you’ve observed and what has already been tried.

If your child goes to a private or independent school

Please contact your local school district.

The following information is necessary to be included in the written request:

Name of Student
Date of Birth
Home Address
Grade
School Name
School Address
Reason why the student needs an assessment. Include details about what you’ve observed and what has already been tried.

Other Resources

Special education guide for parents and caregivers

This guide was developed by the North Region SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area), located in Alameda County.

Connect with other parents

AbilityPath’s Family Resource Center provides parent-to-parent support, outreach, information, and referral services to families of children with developmental disabilities.

The Family Resource Center offers a support line for families of children with developmental disabilities from 0-22 years of age. It is staffed by parents who share the common experience of parenting a child with developmental disabilities.