Dyslexia Endorsement
Dr. Haley Livingston
Professional Learning/GaTAPP Coordinator
hlivingston@okresa.org
Table of Contents
The Dyslexia Endorsement will prepare individuals to recognize the characteristics of dyslexia and support students with dyslexia in the field and at the grade levels of their base certification. This two course endorsement consists of 120 hours of coursework and applied field experiences; content knowledge will be integrated across courses to help ensure mastery. This program abides by and provides expertise in accordance with PSC rule 505-3-.112 Dyslexia Endorsement Program.
Description
All offered endorsements have been approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). According to GaPSC Rule 505-3-.01, Endorsements are “A planned sequence of courses and experiences, typical of three (3) to four (4) courses in length, designed to provide certified educators with an additional, specific set of knowledge and skills, or to expand and enhance existing knowledge and skills. Successful completion of an endorsement program results in the addition of the endorsement field to the Georgia educator certificate.”All endorsements and programs have job-embedded practice. Candidates must ensure that they can accomplish the clinical practice required for each endorsement or program, which will require working with students and staff, as applicable. Endorsement coursework is the equivalent of graduate level college coursework.
Program Overview
The Endorsement will prepare individuals to recognize the characteristics of dyslexia and support students with dyslexia in the field and at the grade levels of their base certification based on standards outlined in Rule 505-3-.112. This endorsement is made up of two courses delivered in a hybrid model combining face-to-face meetings and online coursework.
The endorsement consists of two courses which must be taken in sequence:
1.) Foundations of Literacy Acquisition (60 hours)
2.) Assessments and Structured Literacy Instruction (60 hours)
The purpose of the Dyslexia Endorsement is:
- To enable candidates to understand the five language processing requirements of proficient reading and writing; phonological, orthographic, semantic, syntactic, and discourse.
- To increase understanding of the reciprocal relationships among phonemic awareness, decoding, word recognition, spelling, and vocabulary knowledge.
- To explore the characteristics of a student with dyslexia
- To enable candidates to practice, apply, and implement assessments
- To include screening, progress monitoring, diagnostics, and outcome assessments
- To focus on knowing and utilizing structured literacy practices which include explicit, systematic, cumulative, and teacher-directed principles and practices.
- To provide rationales and adaptions in instruction to accommodate for individual differences in cognitive, linguistic, sociocultural, and behavioral aspects of learning to include multimodal and multi-sensory language learning techniques
- To practice, apply, and implement assessments and instruction to address the five language processing requirements.
Program Rigor
Potential candidates for the Dyslexia Endorsement should understand that the rigor of the program is equivalent to a graduate degree program and are strongly discouraged from participating while engaged in other graduate work. Candidates will be expected to complete both in-class and out-of-class assignments on time and no course credit will be awarded if assignments are incomplete or missing.
Endorsement courses are not self-paced courses. There are scheduled online sessions and regular due dates for assignments throughout the courses. In order to successfully complete the course, all assignments must be submitted by the course deadline date. Failure to complete a course will delay candidate completion of the endorsement by one year.
Admissions Requirements
- Currently employed in a school and must have direct daily access to students.
- Possess a valid, Level 4 or higher Professional teaching, service, or leadership certificate.
- Not enrolled in other college programs (including GaTAPP or MAT)
- Not be involved in extra-curricular activities that would inhibit his/her ability to attend class on time and to complete assignments on time.
- Have the recommendation of the Principal and system Professional Learning Coordinator.
*Strongly recommend that candidates in endorsements are not enrolled in any other college programs during the endorsement.
Tuition
Foundations of Literacy Acquisition and Understanding Dyslexia
- $300.00 plus the cost of books- OK RESA Systems
- $450.00 plus the cost of books- Non OK RESA Systems
Assessments and Structured Literacy Instruction
- $300.00 plus the cost of books- OK RESA Systems
- $450.00 plus the cost of books- Non OK RESA Systems
**OK RESA Endorsement programs are not eligible for 1098-T forms because they are certification programs and not degree programs. We advise all candidates to consult with their tax advisor.
Application Process
Prior to applying for the Dyslexia Endorsement, please read the “Endorsement Program Orientation and Application” located in the Resources Section below.
To be approved for an endorsement program, submit the following:
- Completed application (be sure sections 1 – 4 are complete and signed)
- Copy of Teaching Certificate
- Completed OK RESA Endorsement Agreement