Frances McGlannan Foundation

34 The Foundation provides tuition assistance to elementary and middle school students diagnosed with dyslexia and related language learning differences. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability which impairs a person's ability to read, write and spell and impacts 1 in 5 individuals. These difficulties occur despite a child's intellectual abilities. Consequences may include challenges in reading comprehension, written expression, vocabulary development, mathematical computations, and acquired background knowledge. It can be very difficult for these children to succeed academically in a conventional mainstream educational environment without specialized instruction. Many educational settings try to offer accommodations and assistance to these students. Yet even still, and far too often, academic instructions is not effectively delivered in a manner required to meet their unique learning needs. 

Our goal is to assist these children to attend specialized schools structured to accommodate their specific learning needs so that they may achieve academic success and realize their potential. Specialized schools provide intensive evidence-based instruction. However, tuition to attend these schools may range anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 annually, making it extremely difficult for most families to afford. The Foundation is unique in that it strives to fulfill this financial need. We are one of the few financial resources awarding tuition assistance to elementary and middle school students who face these specific learning challenges.

Children challenged by dyslexia who do not receive proper instruction or remediation often suffer negative effects beyond the classroom. If left unacknowledged or inappropriately addressed, it may lead to frustration, an aversion to school and schoolwork, withdrawal, anxiety, underperformance and poor self-esteem. Many of these children are left feeling "dumb" or may be labeled "lazy". Our work focuses on improving the lives of children by providing a means for early intervention, which is critical for children learning to read. Over the past ten years, the Foundation has provided $370,000 in scholarships to elementary and middle school children.