116. All 50 States Have Dyslexia Laws… So Why Are Kids Still Being Left Behind? with Missy Purcell (Dyslexia Awareness Month)

All 50 states now have dyslexia legislation on the books. So why are so many students with dyslexia still caught in a “wait to fail” system? Dyslexia advocate, Missy Purcell joins the show to explore the gap between passing legislation and actually changing outcomes for students.

Missy shares the deeply personal story of advocating for her own son after watching him go from a child excited to start school to one who was frustrated, anxious, and struggling. That journey, later featured in the Sold a Story podcast, ultimately led Missy from advocating for one child to helping families and educators navigate systems that too often fail to identify and support students early enough.

We unpack what “wait to fail” really looks like in schools, what dyslexia legislation can and cannot accomplish, and why screening alone is never enough. Missy shares lessons from Georgia’s evolving dyslexia and early literacy legislation, including what can happen when well-intentioned laws encounter policies and systems that don’t fully reflect their intent.

We also discuss the importance of early identification, Child Find and IDEA, the relationship between MTSS and special education evaluation, individualized intervention, teacher knowledge, and why a program alone cannot replace a highly trained, responsive educator.

Most importantly, Missy makes the case that dyslexia advocacy does not have to be parents versus teachers. Meaningful change happens when families, educators, school leaders, policymakers, and communities work together – with urgency – to make sure children get what they need before they fail.

Key Takeaways:

  • What “wait to fail” actually looks like for a child
  • Why dyslexia legislation is an important beginning, but not the finish line
  • The role of early screening
  • What can go wrong between legislation, policy, and implementation
  • Why growth is not necessarily the same as closing the gap
  • How parents and teachers can advocate alongside one another & how systems change requires the entire community to work together

Resources & References Mentioned:

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