About Us
FLORIDA DIAGNOSTIC & LEARNING RESOURCES SYSTEM
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a discretionary project of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). BEESS directly supports the FLDOE's Guiding Principles and Strategic Initiatives.
The FDLRS Associate Centers provide an array of instructional and technical support services to school district Exceptional Student Education programs statewide. The four central functions of each FDLRS Associate Center are Child Find, Parent and Family Services, Human Resource Development, and Technology. FDLRS includes 18 Associate Centers that serve Florida’s sixty- seven school districts. These centers collaborate with districts, agency and support personnel, communities, families, and other educational personnel providing support services for educators, parents, school administrators, and students with exceptionalities. Funding also supports implementation of the Professional Learning Alternatives (PLA). PLA online courses are designed to provide Florida teachers with widely available, easily accessible opportunities to increase their skills in the area of exceptional student education. In support of sustaining highly qualified educators, the Statewide Elementary K-6 and the Middle Grades 5-9 Online Content Review Modules are also coordinated through the FDLRS Network.
FDLRS FOUR FUNCTIONS
Child Find: FDLRS Child Find in coordination with the school districts, locates children who are potentially eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and links them with needed services. Child Find services help to promote general public awareness of programs and services available for young children who have or are at risk of developing disabilities. Service coordination for diagnostic screening, placement, training, and support is also provided.
Parent and Family Services: FDLRS Parent and Family Services provides information, training, and support to districts and families, in order to promote effective parent participation in the education of children who are exceptional and/or have special needs. Parent and Family Services include assistance in the development of family-friendly programs, training and support for services for children with disabilities, and the support of partnerships between schools and parents to support student achievement.
Human Resource Development: FDLRS Human Resources Development (HRD) personnel provide professional learning opportunities to educators focused on refining teacher practice and increasing student achievement. Professional learning events are aligned to Florida's Professional Development Protocol Evaluation. FDLRS HRD Specialists support educators in their study of effective learning and teaching practices by providing needs assessments, content and or skill-based workshops, facilitating local learning communities, implementation/ coaching sessions and provide follow-up support. The professional learning activities are offered in face-to-face and virtual settings as well as at a variety of training levels including awareness, in-depth, skill development and implementation.
Technology: FDLRS provides assistance and support in the appropriate use of a variety of technologies for students, teachers, professional staff, and parents. Support services are available in the areas of assistive technology, instructional technology, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), AIM/NIMAS Florida services, and virtual/online instruction. In addition to Technology Specialist at all 19 local FDLRS Associate Centers, statewide services for students who are deaf and hard of hearing (RMTC) and statewide services for students who are blind or visually impaired (FIMC-VI) are offered by FDLRS.