OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Public School Board administrative briefing and workshop session will feature an update on the Florida Diagnostic Learning Resources System at their Jan. 8, 2026, meeting.

The presentation was prepared by James M. Husted, FDLRS Springs coordinator.

The vision of the FDLRS is that every child receiving exceptional student education services will be able to achieve their fullest potential from prekindergarten through post-secondary opportunities resulting in college, career and life readiness, according to the presentation.

The mission of FDLRS is to support and enhance exceptional student education programs by providing enhanced-based high quality professional learning opportunities, integrating assistive and instructional technology, promoting family engagement and ensuring access to early intervention services, according to the presentation.

Marion County is the largest school district in the FDLRS Springs Service Area, with Northern Marion County being centrally located among the service area districts. Reddick is in close proximity to major routes, allowing for easy access for FDLRS district staff. MCPS, in terms of all the districts in the service area, has the greatest need for services through each of the FDLRS functions.

Marion County makes up 45 percent of the FDLRS Springs Service Area, with the remainder split between Alachua (28 percent), Citrus (15 percent), Levy (5 percent), Gilchrist (3 percent), Dixie (2 percent) and P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School (1 percent).

The Florida Department of Education, Division of Public Schools, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B and state general revenue funds, are the mechanisms that fund FDLRS. All of the FDLRS salaries, benefits, travel, contracts and printing are paid for by the grant funds.

The preponderance of the FDLRS funding for the fiscal year 2024-2025, came from the Federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act Grant, $1,131,451 or 97.5 percent, and from a state grant of $28,988 or 2.5 percent, for a total of $1,160,439.

The budget for FDLRS for the fiscal year 2024-2025 saw $709,100.58 (62 percent) go toward salaries, and $283,869.06 (22 percent) go toward benefits.

The primary functions for the FDLRS are Child Find, Technology Services, Parent and Family Services and Human Resources Development.

The FDLRS Springs full-time staff is composed of nine full-time staff members with 240 years of total experience in education.

The FDLRS Springs 2024-2025, local, professional learning and training by number of participants:

  • Behavioral Support, 1,039
  • Curriculum and Instruction, 1,016
  • Educational Policies and Procedures, 656
  • Family and Caregiver, 146
  • Technology, 280
  • Professional Learning Alternatives, 157

The FDLRS network in 2024-2025, made a huge impact, by providing support every step of the way, through 17,154 support opportunities and 109,527 individuals supported.