K-12 reading licensure

"The cutting-edge reading research on effective schools and instructional practice is happening today at the University of Minnesota. And, as a part of the new reading cohort, you are working with the faculty doing this research. They are your instructors." —Gwen Berman Stern, 03-04 cohort graduate

Program

Other links

Application form

Praxis test information

Potts Endowed Scholarship

Tuition

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

The University of Minnesota is recognized as a national and international leader in literacy and educational research and is dedicated to the professional development of Minnesota’s teachers and high quality literacy instruction for all students. To that end, the University of Minnesota’s licensure program develops informed, thoughtful and influential literacy leaders and classroom teachers. This 15 credit program is designed to meet new state licensure rules and is based on current research on the most effective ways to support reading development in K-12 settings.

Coursework focuses on strategies for designing, implementing, and analyzing reading curriculum and instruction for all grades K-12 and draws teachers from various positions within their districts, including generalist/classroom teachers, reading teachers, reading/literacy leaders, content area teachers, and teachers who work with struggling readers. Throughout the program, reading knowledge and pedagogical skills are developed by promoting effective work with children and youth in classrooms and by providing organization and leadership skills to prepare program participants to work as literacy leaders in their school buildings and districts.

Participants in the reading licensure program develop new knowledge and skills by collecting data from their classrooms, reflecting on their learning and teaching techniques, and assembling a Web-based teaching portfolio using innovative technologies. The ongoing portfolio development is grounded in the skills needed for literacy certificates developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and portfolio contents can be used by program participants for Web sites, graduate program portfolios, and various districts’ professional pay plans used to compensate teachers for advanced knowledge/professional development. Curriculum has been developed as a coherent sequence, with the first courses serving as a foundation for subsequent coursework. The program includes an introductory reading leadership course (CI 5431), three reading content courses (CI 5432, 5433, and 5435), plus a course on designing and leading effective literacy professional development (CI 5434).

"The reading licensure program at the University of Minnesota has made me ten times the reading teacher I would have been without it."
—Jennifer Krumm, 05-06 cohort

Reading licensure program key features

Teacher participants interact with leading reading researchers and excellent teacher educators including Deborah Dillon, Lori Helman, David O’Brien, Deborah Peterson, and Barbara Taylor. Outstanding reading educators and leaders from across the state serve as guest lecturers or instructors (e.g., Eva Boehm, Kathy Bryn, Patsy Mogush, Randy Koch, Bonnie Houck, Dawn Hanson, Laura Ludvigson).
Cohorts of 20 teachers learn together and support each other throughout the entire program, forming lasting friendships and ongoing professional networks.
Leadership is a key focus; participants gain the skills to teach reading effectively and use reading as a way to support content area learning in science, math, social studies, art, and other subject matter coursework; cohort graduates also serve as building and district literacy leaders.
Coursework is school-based and promotes work with children and youth from diverse backgrounds and solving real-world literacy problems.
The program can be completed in 18 months; credits can be applied to a University of Minnesota M.Ed. degree.
Courses are scheduled to accommodate the teaching workday (e.g., fall and spring semester classes are scheduled on Wednesdays in the late afternoon/evenings and summer classes are offered in three-week daytime formats)
This program boasts the highest percentage of students who passed the Praxis exam in 2006! (This is an exam required to obtain the reading license—see explanation of the tests below.) Program participants have the option of attending a Praxis test review and study session before they take the exam.
Join a distinguished group of teachers who have matriculated and taken leadership positions or continued in a classroom position where they now excel as teachers knowledgeable about reading.
Limited scholarships are available specifically for students of this licensure program.

"As I reflect on all that I have learned since starting this licensure program, I cannot imagine teaching struggling readers without it. I am so grateful to each and every professor who has taught our classes. Individually, they provided a great deal of support toward my overall development. I am also thankful to every member of our cohort and appreciate their willingness to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. I know that professional development will be a continuous quest for me."
—Susan Bronson, 05-06 cohort

Admission requirements

Admission is based on the following criteria:

At least one year of full-time teaching experience in a K-12 setting
Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 in prior coursework
Current state of Minnesota five-year professional teaching licensure or evidence of meeting requirements for Minnesota five-year professional teaching licensure

Application materials

We invite candidates to submit the following application materials:

A completed Application for Admission to Additional Licensure Programs [.pdf]. The form is available on the Web or from the College’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: spsinfo@umn.edu.
Application fee: Make check, money order, or bank draft payable to the University of Minnesota in the amount of $55 for up to two additional licensure areas. Application fee for each additional area is $25.
Note: Fee does not apply to current master of education (M.Ed.) students or applicants or to those who have completed the M.Ed. at the University of Minnesota within the past three years.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate or graduate colleges or universities where you completed 12 or more semester credits and all colleges or universities attended after completion of the undergraduate degree, except the University of Minnesota. Official transcripts must be received from the issuing school in a sealed and stamped envelope.
Professional résumé
A copy of your current or previous Minnesota teaching license(s)
Contact information for the principal of the school building where you most recently gained K-12 classroom experience

Application deadlines

Twenty students will be admitted into the cohort each year. Applications are accepted at any time throughout the year and reviewed in an ongoing basis for summer program admission. March 1 is the deadline for preferred admission, but applications after this deadline will be accepted and cohort openings filled as space allows. To secure your spot in next year’s cohort, apply soon.

Curriculum (15 credits)

Individuals admitted to the cohort complete the following course sequence, beginning with CI 5431. When circumstances necessitate it, teacher participants may petition to take a course out of sequence.

Course #	Course title	Professor	Term	Time
CI 5431 (3 cr)	Introduction to Instructional Leadership in K-12 Reading	David O’Brien	Summer	M, Tu, W, Th, F June 16-27, 1:00-5:00
CI 5432 (3 cr)	Instructional Leadership in Reading in Kindergarten and the Elementary Grades	Barbara Taylor	Fall	Wed. 4:40-7:20
CI 5433 (3 cr)	Instructional Leadership in Reading for the Middle and Secondary Grades	David O’Brien	Spring	Wed. 4:40-7:20
CI 5434 (3 cr)	Professional Development and Evolving Practice in K-12 Reading	Deborah Dillon	Summer	M, Tu, W, Th, F June 16-27, 8:00-12:00
CI 5435 (3 cr)	Instructional Leadership in Preventing Reading Difficulties	Lori Helman	Fall	Wed. 4:40-7:20

Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule at the University’s One Stop student services Web site.

Testing

The Minnesota Board of Teaching requires licensure applicants to pass several standardized Praxis Series tests administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). These tests are offered several times a year; students are responsible for registering for and taking Praxis Series tests by the required deadlines. Test information is available from The Praxis Series Information and Registration Bulletin, available at Student Services (612-625-6501) or the ETS Web site.

The following test must be taken before licensure program completion:

Praxis II: Subject Assessments—Reading Specialist

See more details at Praxis testing.

Registration

Students already admitted to degree or additional licensure programs may register online for coursework at the University’s One Stop student services Web site. For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.