The Reading, Literacy and Learning professional endorsement program is designed for teachers who have a Master’s degree. It provides teachers the opportunity to investigate research-based theories in reading and writing, put theory into effective practice, and examine how culture impacts teaching and learning. The goal is to produce competent teacher-leaders able to teach reading and writing across the curriculum within the parameters of research-based literacy techniques and assessments.
Admission to this professional endorsement is on the same basis as admission to the Master of Education in Reading, Literacy, and Learning with the addition that applicants must hold a master’s degree and must possess a valid Virginia Postgraduate Professional License or equivalent from another state.
Students interested in pursuing licensure as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in the Commonwealth of Virginia are advised to obtain and adhere to the regulations of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/index.shtml) and to work with their school division’s personnel department to determine eligibility.
In addition to completion of this approved graduate level program, the VDOE requires passing scores on the RVE: Reading Specialist Assessment and at least three years of successful classroom teaching experience in which the teaching of literacy is an important responsibility. Students should not attempt the RVE: Reading Specialist Assessment prior to the completion of READ 660 - Evaluation and Applied Practicum in Emergent/Early Literacy ; READ 670 - Evaluation and Applied Practicum in Intermediate/Adolescent Literacy ; and READ 680 - Developing Literacy Leaders .
Professional Portfolio
All students in the professional endorsement in Reading, Literacy and Learning complete READ 691 - Professional Portfolio , as the culminating experience and exit requirement for the program. Students are scaffolded by their advisor throughout the program regarding professional portfolio requirements. During their final semester of enrollment, students are required to develop and present a professional portfolio which documents their mastery of program standards and highlights their growth throughout the program. Grading is Pass/Not Pass. A student who earns a Not Pass is allowed to retake READ 691 once. Should the student earn a second Not Pass, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program.
