New York City will grow its smorgasbord of dyslexia initiatives this fall — from the first district school explicitly for students with the learning disability, to screening detained or incarcerated students for difficulty reading.

South Bronx Literacy Academy, was approved by the city’s school governing body, the Panel for Educational Policy, last week. The initiative expands on a dyslexia pilot program at P.S. 161, part of a $7.4 million investment in screeners and literacy services this school year, but will open as a full-fledged school this September.

For many parents who led the advocacy for a district school designed for reading challenges, the vote was historic. Weepy families shared their experiences finding an appropriate program for their own children with dyslexia, which often entailed costly evaluations and private programs, and tears and temper tantrums while they struggled in school. Read the full article