Membership Information

This membership category is designed for non-public schools that fulfill the eligibility criteria required for ALDS member schools. By becoming a member, your school gains access to the full range of ALDS benefits. Additionally, all employees at your institution will automatically receive access to these exclusive member benefits, ensuring that your entire team can take advantage of the resources and opportunities provided by ALDS.

ALDS Membership Criteria

• Non public school that specializes in education of students with learning differences -- namely dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and executive function challenges

• Specific Admissions Criteria based on the above learning profile

• Fully accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the National Association of Independent Schools  and/or International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICIASA) or a comparable accreditation body internationally.

• All students receive instruction using research based practices designed for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and executive function challenges and are aligned with the Science of Reading. 

Note - ALDS is not currently accepting applications from schools that serve a broader profile than the one listed above.

Membership Benefits

• All employees of your school receive the following benefits through membership:

• • Unlimited Access to affinity-based and hot-topic roundtable discussions
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  • Unlimited Access to ALDS listservs, including affinity group lists

• • Free Promotion of school outreach events on the website and in weekly emails
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  • Discounted Registration for the Leadership Retreat 
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  • Job Postings for administrative roles on the Careers Page
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  • Exclusive Invitations to in-person social events at IDA and NAIS

• • Unlimited Access to members-only webpage and resources
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  • Unlimited Access to ALDS Speaker Series webinars and recordings
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  • Regular Updates via weekly emails and quarterly newsletters
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  • Exclusive Learning Opportunities through ALDS-only learning cohorts
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  • Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities via nomination for task forces and board committees
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  • Annual Membership Benchmarking Data providing insights on member schools

The Board of Trustees approved 2025-2026 membership dues are listed below.   Membership runs from September 1 - August 31.  

Dues will be determined based on self-reported Annual Operating Revenue Budgets of schools. This tiered approach reflects thoughtful input from our community, extensive research in association membership, and they aligns with our strategic goals.