Concentration Area

The Instructional Specialist Reading program is intended for the teaching practitioner in settings from early childhood through adolescence and young adulthood.

Through the program, the candidates will learn to deal more effectively with diverse candidate learners and move from theory to best practice in the field. The Reading Specialist PK-12 serves practicing teachers, elementary or secondary, who wish to acquire initial reading specialist licensure with a master’s degree in Kansas. It is based on the International Literacy Association’s Standards for Reading Professionals (ILA: formerly the International Reading Association). In 2009, the International Reading Association awarded ESU the Certificate of Distinction for the elementary education reading program.

The master’s degree does not require Kansas state licensure completion and is open to out-of-state applicants. The program is available online and is designed to:

• provide specialized training for teachers to work with children in the classroom or in reading programs;
• enhance a teacher’s expertise in reading to serve as a district- or building-level leader as an instructional specialist, reading teacher, or literacy coach;
• provide coursework that may be transferred to other states with the approval of the licensing state;
• prepare educators for teaching reading and language arts in a community college;
• provide master’s level preparation for doctoral programs in reading and language arts;
• provide the coursework and requirements for a Kansas Initial Specialist License—Reading Specialist through an accredited program. The ESU Reading Specialist Program is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education and NCATE.

Options

Students who have earned a previous master’s degree may enroll as a Licensure Only student and will only need to complete a 19-hour program. See the details for the plan here.

Program of Study