Reading Specialist, Initial Licensure, Certificate Program

Graduate Curriculum Committee

Nermin Bayazit, PhD
Lyndsey Benharris, PhD
Anne Howard, PhD
Laurie Link, EdD
Margaret O’Hearn-Curran, PhD
Phillip Saisa, EdD
Robert Shapiro, PhD, BCBA-D
Annette Sullivan, EdD

Graduate Certificate, Reading Specialist

Program Description

The Reading Specialist Graduate Certificate defines the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment, instruction and leadership in the field of reading. It responds to the needs of school districts by preparing specialists in leadership roles, as well as to the needs of students with a wide range of abilities. This certificate program provides candidates who hold initial licenses in early childhood, elementary, middle school or special education with a rigorous, research-based curriculum and a range of assessment, teaching and staff development opportunities. Candidates for this program already hold a master’s degree and are seeking preparation for the state licensure examination for initial licensure: reading specialist.

Fitchburg State University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Fitchburg State University is working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under the AAQEP standards with an anticipated quality assurance review in Fall 2023.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Candidates gain knowledge of the theoretical, historical, and research-based practices related to the development of literacy and language. An emphasis is placed on scientifically based reading instruction.
• Candidates develop expertise in analyzing and adapting curricula to support the literacy needs of all learners. This includes listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• Candidates develop proficiency in the assessment of student literacy achievement using a range of formative, summative and normative assessments.
• Candidates are able to evaluate the technical adequacy and cultural appropriateness of specific instruments used for screening, progress monitoring and diagnosis.
• Candidates analyze assessment data to effectively communicate results to a variety of stakeholders and to develop literacy instruction for a broad range of learners.
• Candidates create inclusive classrooms, advocate for equity and affirm students’ identities through experiences that encourage scholarship in the areas of diversity and equity.  
• Candidates develop competency in a variety of instructional strategies using print and digital materials to motivate and engage all learners.
• Candidates develop the leadership skills necessary to facilitate ongoing school and district literacy initiatives and to promote professional development activities. 
• Candidates develop coaching skills through authentic, school-based experiences that are supervised by qualified literacy professionals
• Candidates develop expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of literacy instructional plans through a supervised practicum experience.

Adapted from Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017). International Literacy Association

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment in the Reading Specialist Certificate Program, a student must submit documents as outlined in the graduate admissions section as well as:

• Initial Licensure in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, Special Education, Speech-Language and Hearing Disorders, or Academic/Teacher-Library. 
• Master’s Degree
• Applicants to graduate initial licensure teacher preparation programs must successfully complete the literacy and communication subtests of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) and submit passing scores as part of their application.

MAT/GRE/GMAT exams are not required

Program Prerequisites

• An initial teaching license as outlined above
• Literature for Children or Young Adults (or equivalent)
• Child Growth and Development (or equivalent)
• Principles and Practices of the Teaching of Reading (or equivalent)
• In addition, students must successfully pass the MTEL Reading Specialist exam prior to the practicum experience.

Program of Study

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course

Prior to completion of the program of study, initial licensure candidates are required to take the Fitchburg State University ESE-approved SEI course, if needed, in order to be endorsed for licensure.  Please note that SEI endorsement occurs following the completion of the program, not before. Please note that the DESE requires that the SEI course include at least 30 contact hours face-to-face to meet their requirements.