Every child deserves to be taught to read.

A national effort to end the stigma around dyslexia and get every child effective reading instruction.

Our two goals

End the stigma

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. We are changing the story so every child who struggles to read knows it.

Effective reading instruction for every child

Every child should be taught to read in their public school, in ways that work, regardless of family resources or zip code.

Why this matters

Dyslexia is common: as many as 1 in 5 people show signs of it.¹ Nothing is wrong with them. The problem is how they are taught to read, and the story they come to believe about themselves. Within their first years of school, many have already decided they are not smart.

And it is not only children with dyslexia who are being failed. In the United States, nearly 7 in 10 4th graders are not proficient readers, and 2 in 5 read below even the most basic level.² Below the basic level means a 4th grader who cannot reliably find a detail in a short passage or explain why a character did what they did.

Families with resources can often pay for evaluations, tutors, or private schools. Many families cannot. They trust their schools to help, and too often they are left believing the problem is their child.

Children with dyslexia need explicit, systematic reading instruction, and that kind of instruction benefits many children, not only children with dyslexia. This is not a mystery. The challenge is making proven practice the norm in schools.

Many teachers were never taught how reading develops or how to teach children who struggle. They are doing their best with what they were given. The gap is in the system, and it can be fixed.

Reading is a civil right. No child's chance to learn should depend on where they live or what their family can pay.

Sources: 1. International Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Basics. 2. The Nation's Report Card, NAEP 2024 Reading, Grade 4.

Where we start

We believe the system changes when the public understands what is at stake. So we are starting with the story.

Clearer public understanding: Most people still believe that dyslexia is rare, that children grow out of it, or that a child who struggles to read is not bright. None of that is true. We are working with media and storytellers to help the public understand what dyslexia is, what it is not, what children need, and how schools can provide it.
Real stories: Dyslexia does not look the same in every child, and it often comes with ADHD, dysgraphia, or other learning differences. We will share real stories across that range, so more children and families recognize themselves.

Grounded in the field

Every Kid Reads is informed by researchers, educators, advocates, and families across reading science and dyslexia. The goal is simple: help more children get what they need, sooner.

Why I started this

I am a developmental psychologist and a parent. I have seen firsthand how much it takes, in resources and advocacy, to get a dyslexic child what they need. And I think about the millions of children who never get that help. I started Every Kid Reads to help change that.

Drika Weller, PhD
Founder