Welcome to the Dyslexia Department of Huntsville City Schools. Our goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students who have been identified with dyslexia can thrive academically, while promoting awareness and understanding within our schools and their communities. We support our schools (K-12) with early identification, effective implementation of intervention programs, and teacher training on the basics of dyslexia as well as our intervention programs. Our collaborative efforts between school principals, parents, students, and community partners allow us to raise awareness about dyslexia and how to best support identified students.

The Alabama Literacy Act #2019-523 (ALA) mandates instruction based on the science of reading and intensive literacy supports for all students in kindergarten through third grade, including those students with dyslexia. It further mandates that all struggling readers will receive dyslexia-specific reading intervention. For additional information please refer to the HCS Alabama Literacy Act page.

Our department oversees eleven literacy specialists who support K-5 schools in providing these dyslexia-specific reading interventions by utilizing state approved intervention program(s). Through continuous collaboration with school principals, teachers, specialists, students, and parents, we strive to assure our students are prepared for whatever endeavors they choose to pursue.

View the Dyslexia Resource Guide and more on the ALSDE English Language Arts page under the Dyslexia heading.

Manuela Cothren
Dyslexia Coordinator
Office: 256-428-6800 (ext. 7532)
Location: HCS Annex