History - FDLRS Suncoast

A Legacy of Support and Innovation

Since its beginnings in the early 1970s, the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) has evolved through collaboration, legislation, and innovation to become a trusted statewide network supporting exceptional student education. The timeline below highlights how our mission and services have grown to meet the changing needs of families, educators, and students across Florida.

1970s

1971 - The Beginning: Florida Learning Resources System (FLRS)

Established through Florida’s Annual State Plan
Joint Florida Department of Education and school districts' initiative offering inservice and curriculum resources for special education
FDLRS Alpha (Palm Beach) was the first center; 18 centers by 1977
Initiated by Doris Nabi

1974 - Florida Diagnostic & Resource Centers (D&R)

Created by the legislature to identify and evaluate exceptional students
16 host districts established, increased to 18 in 1975
Provided comprehensive diagnostic and referral services

1975 - Child Find Added

Became a specific D&R function
Included consultation, parent engagement, and service outreach

1978 - The Merger

FLRS and D&R merged to form the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS)
Codified in Florida Statutes for the establishment of regional diagnostic and learning resource centers
18 centers with 1 to 9 counties in their service area
7 functions and loan library.
Board of Directors, Coordinating Council, and Advisory Board

1980s

1980s - Growth and Structure

18 centers defined by demographics and geography
Staff assigned by function (Diagnostic, Learning Resources, etc.)
Mass screening, inservice support, material loans
Major network evaluation in 1986–87 refined service delivery

1987 - Strategic Refinement

Refocused Child Find on PreK
Increased teacher support
Refined materials collections
Technology recognized as priority area
Disbanded Board of Directors

1990s

1994/1995 - Future Planning & Reorganization

"Future Search" workshop led to strategic revisions
Reconfigured and added a 19th center
Reorganized to research-based instructional strategies
7 functions reorganized into 4 core functions:
- Child Find
- Parent Services
- Human Resource Development (HRD)
- Technology

2000s

2001/2003 – Statewide Distance Learning Program

Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) was developed
Free, flexible training for all Florida educators
Locally coordinated by 19 Associate Centers
Launched statewide in 2003
Development coordinated by Mary Ann Ahearn

2002 – Legislative Continuity

FDLRS services maintained through major school law revisions
Authorized under Section 1006.03, Florida Statutes (F.S.) - Diagnostic and Learning Resource Centers

2005/2012 - FDLRS Administration

Addition of the FDLRS Administration/HRD Project
Transitioned to the FDLRS Administration Project (2012)

2010s

2012 – Regional Refinement

Centers grouped into 5 regions with regional contacts

2015/2023 - Partnership Between FDLRS and FIN

FIN Facilitators located at FDLRS Associate Centers until 2023

2019 - Distance Learning Merger

PDA merged with the BEESS Portal for Professional Development Alternatives (PDA)
Renamed BEESS Portal to PLA in 2023

2020s

1972 - Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired

FIMC-VI
FDLRS Specialized Center
Serves students who are blind or visually impaired (VI)
Supports teachers, districts, and agencies working with students who are blind or VI.
NIMAS Coordinator

1978/1999 - Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

RMTC:D/HH
FDLRS Specialized Center
Serves students who are deaf or hard of hearing
Originally known as ETCC – Educational Television and Captioning Center.
Merged with FSDB’s Computer Resource Center and became RMC-HI.
Emerged in 1999 as RMTC:D/HH

1983/2014 - FDLRS Multidisciplinary Centers

Florida State University Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center
University of Florida Health Multidisciplinary Diagnostic & Training Program
University of Florida Health - Jacksonville Neurodevelopmental Pediatric Center
University of South Florida Multidisciplinary Evaluation & Consulting Center, Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation and Intervention
University of Miami Linda Ray Intervention Center
Keiser University Multidisciplinary Center