Reading Specialist Certificate

Description

The proposed Reading Specialist post-professional certificate is designed to provide specific background, education and tools to educators teaching K-12 learners reading below grade level.  The certificate also provides specific background, education and tools for coaching teachers in evidence-supported literacy practices. Students will learn the developmental stages of literacy along with classroom instruction and intervention practices within each developmental stage.  Students will learn how to assess K-12 learners reading below grade level. Students will learn how to coach other teachers in research-supported literacy instruction, and about best practices for engaging teachers in professional development. Graduates will be prepared and able to communicate assessment findings and instructional recommendations for K-12 learners reading below grade level. Graduates will be prepared to coach and implement professional development for teachers in the field of literacy.

The Reading Specialist post-professional certificate provides a route to reading specialist endorsement for practicing educators who already hold a graduate degree in the field of education.  The Virginia Department of Education requires that reading specialists have specific competencies in the areas of literacy assessment, instruction, intervention and coaching.  The proposed post-professional certificate provides graduates with the necessary competencies to obtain an endorsement to become a reading specialist in Virginia. 

See Appendix A for the Virginia Department of Education requirements.  

Admission Criteria

The following admission requirements will apply to all applicants.  All students must:

• Submit a completed application and the application fee
• Be a licensed teacher with three years of teaching experience or current school employment
• Possess a graduate degree in an education-related field
• Submit official transcripts for all coursework in higher education
• Submit two letters of recommendation
• Submit a writing sample describing the applicant’s purpose for pursuing a reading specialist endorsement, including short-term and long-term goals 

Curriculum Requirements

Students will complete coursework to develop specific knowledge of assessment, instruction, and intervention to serve K-12 learners reading below grade level. The curriculum includes coursework focusing on skills to coach teachers in evidence-supported literacy practices.  Students will gain an understanding of the theories and methodologies of literacy instruction and intervention and learn to apply skills and methods of literacy instruction. Coursework will focus on literacy-specific assessment, instruction, intervention and coaching. 

The reading specialist endorsement through the Virginia Department of Education requires that students take course competencies in the areas of assessment and diagnostic teaching, communication, literacy instruction, writing, and leadership/coaching. Students seeking the reading specialist endorsement will take courses directly associated to these competencies. 

The reading practicum is a required experience in a public setting that will allow students to practice the skills they have learned in their courses under the direction of a university supervisor. 

Required Courses 24 credit hours

Practicum Requirement

Ninety clock hours of direct instruction with K-12 learners reading below grade level will be required for the six-credit hour practicum.  Intervention planning and report-writing will take place in addition to the direct contact hours with K-12 learners reading below grade level. The practicum provides an experiential academic component to enhance the student’s skill set while working with students reading below grade level in K-12 settings.  Since students in the certificate program are practicing skills learned in the program, the practicum requirement cannot be in their current position as a part of their employment and prior experience cannot be applied toward the ninety hour clock-hour requirement. The practicum will be coordinated by the program coordinator for the certificate and the Literacy Education program. A practicum performance assessment will be evaluated by the university supervisor. This assessment will be based on the student’s assessment, intervention instruction and communication throughout the course of the practicum experience. If a student receives a grade of C- or below for the practicum, the practicum will be repeated during the next available term to fulfill the practicum requirement.