Master of Education – Reading Specialist

The master of education degree for a reading specialist requires 36 semester credit hours in education related to reading instruction, reading assessment, language acquisition and implementation of reading instruction.

Course Requirements

The following are courses in the master's program that lead to certification as a reading specialist; several are also required for the Master Reading Teacher (MRT) certification. Coursework must be finished within six years.

**	ED 5307 Graduate Research
*	ED 5308 Foundations of Reading
	ED 5316 Teaching the Multicultural Learner
*	ED 6308 Advanced Human Growth and Development
*	ED 6311 Literacy & Language Development
*	ED 6313 Reading in the Content Area
*	ED 6314 Diagnosis & Correction of Reading Difficulties
*	ED 6317 Organization & Supervision of Reading Programs
*	ED 6318 Literacy Through Literature
*	ED 7312 Reading Practicum
	6 sch approved electives

*Courses required for reading specialist certification only
**Course must be taken within the first 12 hours

Certification Requirements

For certification, the applicant must:

1. Complete a master's degree
2. Have valid Texas Teacher Certification
3. Pass TExES #151 (Reading Specialist)
4. Have three years of classroom teaching experience

Master Reading Teacher Certification

The Master Reading Teacher Certificate is part of the Texas Reading Initiative to ensure that all Texas students are reading on grade level by the end of the third grade and that their reading knowledge and skills grow throughout their public school careers. The statewide program begin in 2000, with the certification exams administered for the first time in early 2001.

A Master Reading Teacher is a person who has earned the certificate and whose primary duties are to teach reading and serve as a reading mentor to other teachers. The certificate may be obtained by:

1. Completing an SBEC-approved Master Reading Teacher preparation program, or
2. Having a teaching certificate and at least three years of teaching experience, completing an SBEC-approved Master Reading Teacher preparation program and passing the Master Reading Teacher certification exam.

The MRT standards are based on EC-3 Reading Instruction certification standards and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Kindergarten-Grade 12 English, Language Arts/Reading and require knowledge of:

• The interrelated components of reading;
• The use of appropriate reading assessments and the implementation of reading instruction based on state standards;
• First and second language acquisition, reading difficulties, dyslexia and reading disorders; and
• Strategies to ensure research-based reading instruction through communication and collaboration with stakeholders; and
• Mentoring, coaching and providing professional development.

Course Requirements

ED 5308 Foundations of Reading
ED 6311 Literacy & Language Development
ED 6313 Reading in the Content Area
ED 6314 Diagnosis & Correction of Reading Difficulties
ED 6317 Organization and Supervision of Reading Programs

Certification Requirements

For certification, the applicant must:

1. Have three years of classroom teaching experience and hold a valid Texas teacher certificate
2. Complete accredited MRT program
3. Pass the TExMaT #85 (Master Reading Teacher)

OR

1. Complete the master's degree program (36 hours)
2. Pass TExES #151 (Reading Specialist)
3. Be recommended by the program advisor