University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Become a Literacy Coach and Reading Specialist 

Advance your career and earn graduate credits via online courses and meet your professional development goals to become a literacy coach or reading specialist.

Many students enroll in a single course for license renewal to enhance their literacy coaching skills; others enroll in all three courses to complete the Wisconsin Reading Specialist (17) certification in three semesters.

• Tuition and Registration
• Application and Admission Requirements
  
• Courses
• Reading Specialist Job Opportunities

All reading specialist certification courses are 3 graduate credits and offered online. No travel to campus is required.

Tuition

How much will it cost?

Spring and summer 2013 - $415 per semester hour graduate credit 
Fall 2013 - $438 per semester hour graduate credit

Each reading course is 3 graduate credits.

Tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state and international students.

NOTE: Tuition for students enrolled in University of Wisconsin-Stout's online Master of Science in Education degree will be billed at the degree program credit hour rate.  You may select individual courses or the entire sequence.

Payment options: e-check, check, money order, employer purchase order, or credit card

Textbooks are not included in the tuition fee.

How long will it take?

Many students enroll in a single course during one term for license renewal or to enhance their literacy coaching skills. Other students enroll in all three courses to complete the Wisconsin Reading Specialist certification in three semesters. If you are teaching/working full-time, enrolling in one course per term is the recommendation of the reading faculty.

Course assignments require posting responses on the discussion board, reading and replying to other participants' discussion postings, readings, assignments, and field experiences. 

Register Online

When can I start and how do I register online?

Register Online for individual courses to renew a teaching license or to transfer credits to another university's program.

There is no registration fee  to reserve a class. This program is very popular and courses fill well before the start date.

All courses are offered three times each year (spring, summer and fall).

Do I need to apply for admission to the university's graduate program?

No, you do not need to apply for graduate admission to the university unless you are beginning a Master's degree program at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

When is the registration deadline?

Registration is available until each session is filled or two weeks before the course begins.

Courses

RDGED 720 Leading and Directing the Reading Program
Using theory, research data, evidence, and organizational change principles to develop, lead, evaluate, and improve PK-12 literacy and professional development programs. Response to Intervention (RtI) with emphasis on Progress Monitoring in Tier 2 and Tier 3. Leadership in developing and promoting effective literacy programs for all students is emphasized.

RDGED 721 Supporting Literacy Instruction
Supporting teachers in learning about effective reading instruction through literacy coaching, consultation, and ongoing professional development. Special attention will be given to analyzing data and mastering the complexities of observing, modeling, and providing feedback to teachers.

RDGED 722  Reading Specialist Field Experience
(Prerequisites: completion of RDGED 720 and RDGED 721 and instructor approval) Supervised school-based practicum in reading program implementation and evaluation.  Emphasis is directed toward developing coaching practices, planning professional development programs, and facilitating evidence-based reading programs.

Reading Specialist Jobs

A reading specialist license is required for any person who directs early childhood through adolescence reading programs or works with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading or literacy coach.

What are the job responsibilities of a reading specialist?

Per s.118.015(3), Wis. Stats., a reading specialist shall: develop and implement a reading curriculum in grades kindergarten to 12, act as a resource person to classroom teachers to implement the reading curriculum, work with administrators to support and implement the reading curriculum, conduct an annual evaluation of the reading curriculum, and coordinate the reading curriculum with other reading programs and other support services within the school district.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply for admission to the university's graduate program?

No, you do not need to apply for graduate admission to the university unless you are beginning the Masters of Science in Education degree program at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

May I enroll in one of the reading specialist courses without taking the entire course sequence and without getting a Masters degree?

Yes, you may register for individual courses to renew a reading specialist license, to transfer credits to another university or another state's reading specialist program, or for personal professional development. NOTE: RDGED 722 Reading Specialist Field Experience requires completion of RDGED 720 and RDGED 721 as prerequisites for enrollment.

Application and Prerequisites

Download the reading specialist certification program application form and email it to Amy Gullixson at gullixsona@uwstout.edu. 

Deadline: Two weeks before the course begins.

Option A
You may apply to the program if you have completed all of the following:

• Wisconsin 316 reading teacher license at the early childhood through adolescent level
• A Master's degree with an emphasis in reading (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
• Three years of teaching experience, preferably including reading instruction

Option B
You may apply to the program if you have completed all of the following:

• Bachelors degree
• Wisconsin 316 reading teacher license at the early childhood through adolescent level (minimum GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in past reading coursework)
• Three years of teaching experience, preferably including reading instruction
• Application to the Master of Science in Education program at UW-Stout. (The reading specialist credits may be applied as elective credit in the master's program.)

Option C
No application to the program is required for educators who wish to enroll in individual reading specialist courses to renew a reading specialist license and meet professional development goals or to transfer credit to another university's reading specialist program. You may register online for individual courses.

Admission Requirements

Benchmark I
Eligibility is determined by:   

1. Evidence of your professional development goals and commitment to working with students with reading needs (written statement of goals)
2. Evidence of your professional development self-analysis and reflection (written statement of goals)
3. Goals relating to seeking reading specialist certification (written statement of goals)
4. Evidence of your current reading teacher license (application form)
5. Evidence of 3.0 GPA or higher in past reading coursework (transcript)
   
   

Register Online

If you are registering for one course (not the entire reading specialist course sequence), then simply complete the secure, no-hassle online registration form.

Benefits