Reading Specialist (K-12)
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
The K-12 Reading Specialist endorsement is designed to prepare students to: 1) provide professional guidance and expertise to school and/or district literacy curriculum, instruction, and assessment programs; 2) develop and conduct inservice programs related to literacy teaching and learning; 3) team teach with classroom teachers; 4) serve as an in-class consultant, collaborator, and/or coach with classroom teachers; and 5) to provide professional guidance and expertise regarding the instructional needs of children with reading/literacy difficulties. As required by the State of Colorado, the K-12 Reading Specialist endorsement program is designed to be a sixth year graduate program of studies. Equivalent graduate courses may be waived by the student’s assigned advisor. Most students entering the program will have a Master of Arts degree in Reading and/or a Reading Endorsement at the Elementary or Secondary level. Students in the K-12 Reading Specialist program are required to obtain the alternate endorsement in Reading.
K-12 Specialist:
To successfully complete the K-12 Reading Specialist academic program an applicant must:
- Have successfully completed graduate studies in the teaching of reading to qualify for Reading Teacher endorsement at both the elementary and secondary levels. An elementary or secondary Reading Teacher shall have completed preparation in reading at the level alternate to the initial Reading Teacher endorsement.
- Have completed all course requirements with a letter grade of “B” or better.
- Pass the Colorado PLACE Test for Reading Teacher endorsement.
Endorsement Requirements — 56 Credits
Required Literacy Courses — 32 hours
| EDRD 612 | Reading in the Elementary Schools | 3 |
| EDRD 614 | Literature for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults | 3 |
| EDRD 617 | Evaluation and Improvements of Literacy Teaching and Learning | 4 |
| EDRD 620 | Reading in the Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDRD 642 | Teaching theWriting Process in Schools | 3 |
| EDRD 645 | Reading Research | 3 |
| EDRD 670 | Directing a School-Wide Reading/Literacy Program | 3 |
| EDRD 692 | Clinical Practicum in Literacy Coaching | 4 |
Select one of the following courses:
EDRD 622: Content to be determined with Advisor
Select one of the following courses:
Required Support Courses — 24 hours
| EDEL 620 | Researched Applications for Instruction in Mathematics, K-9 | 3 |
| SRM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Research | 3 |
| SRM 670 | Evaluation: Models and Designs | 3 |
| ECLD 602 | Teaching Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners | 3 |
Select one of the following courses:
| EDEL 612 | Elementary School Curriculum | 3 |
| EED 541 | Methods for Teaching Composition in Secondary School | 3 |