Florida’s only transitional school for children with dyslexia is expanding.

Currently, the Roberts Academy at Florida Southern College offers second through sixth grade instruction to a student body of 120.

During the 2017-2018 school year, Roberts will add two seventh grade classrooms. The following school year, two eighth grade classrooms will be added, as well.

Each grade level will have a total of 24 spots, according to Dr. Tracey Tedder, the academy's head and Dean of Education at Florida Southern College.  
 
“We’re really excited for our community and for the families who for so many years have looked for a unique approach to help their child in learning to read, write, and spell,” said Tedder. “We have families that travel from great distances, even move from other states to come to the Roberts Academy at Florida Southern College.”
 
Carlene Skiles was one of the parents who was pleased to hear the school was expanding to offer middle school. Her daughter Katie is in the fifth grade.

Skiles said it would’ve been too expensive to send her daughter to another private school, and she wasn’t ready to send her back to public school.
 
“We were like ‘Oh, what are we going to do? What are we going to do? And then when they announced it this fall to the parents that they were going to add seventh grade next year and eighth grade the following year," said Skiles. "Oh my word, huge relief.”
 
A veteran teacher herself, Skiles said her daughter hated reading and going to school before she started attending The Roberts Academy.
 
“She went from somebody that would make up any excuse, ‘I’m sick. My head hurts. I can’t go to school, mommy,’ crying, pushing her on the bus to now she’s up before any of us," said Skiles. "Dressed and saying, ‘Mom, I’m ready to go. I can’t be late. I need to be at school.'"
 
Skiles also told us her daughter could barely read a sentence when she entered Roberts. Now Katie reads at grade level, thanks to the school using the multisensory Orton-Gillingham Approach.
 
“Unbelievable. Unbelievable change,” Skiles said.  
 
“I feel amazing," said Katie Skiles. "I wish they would add more grades, honestly.“
 
Tuition next year at the Roberts Academy is $7,800, according to Dr. Tedder. Scholarships are available.
 
The academy is hosting an open house on January 17, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. More are planned for February, April, and July.

The academy is now accepting applications for incoming seventh grade students. It accepts applications for students in the second through sixth grade year-round.

For more information, visit the Roberts Academy home page: http://www.flsouthern.edu/roberts-academy/home.aspx.