Reading Endorsement
Endorsement / Approval Program
About the Reading Teacher Endorsement:
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adds a Reading Teacher Endorsement to existing teaching certificates when applicants meet the course requirements for this endorsement and pass either the ISBE Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Content Exam. The Reading Teacher Endorsement is distinguished from the Reading Specialist Certificate. At UIC, the Reading Specialist Certificate is a second certificate earned exclusively by those who complete the requirements for the MED degree in Literacy, Language, and Culture, have at least two years teaching experience, and choose the reading specialist strand. The certificate entitles its recipients to teach reading, including in specialized programs and in positions of leadership, in K-12 schools.
The following information relates to the reading teacher endorsement only. Graduates who already have a teaching certificate and would like to be certified as a reading specialist should access the Literacy, Language, and Culture program page.
The Reading Teacher Endorsement is an endorsement on a certificate and is valid only for the grades specified in the existing certificate. For example, if the Reading Teacher Endorsement is added to a Type 09 (secondary) certificate, the recipient can teach reading in grades 9-12 and in grades 6-8 if accompanied by the middle grades courses. Graduate level students who have met the requirements for the Reading Teacher Endorsement can apply for it at the same time they apply for their initial certificate. The Reading Teacher Endorsement is one way to increase the likelihood of employment and leadership in Illinois and Chicago k-12 schools. It allows recipients to teach reading who are not teaching reading as part of general classroom instruction, provide technical assistance to other teachers, and provide professional development to teachers.
Teacher candidates can earn a reading teacher endorsement on their certificate by taking a series of courses that meet the guidelines of the Illinois State Board of Education for reading teacher preparation and by passing the ISBE Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Content Exam. The reading coursework they take in preparation for their initial certificate area is considered in this series of courses.
Teacher candidates pursuing the reading teacher option should apply for the endorsement through the office of the Council on Teacher Education (CTE), even if they have already applied for and received their initial certificates. There is not a one-to-one match between the course titles and the ISBE course requirements, so the course sequence may not be recognized as meeting the ISBE guidelines unless it is applied for through the CTE. The process of approval is also facilitated by taking the entire series of courses at UIC. Contact the CTE (312-355-0714) or Certification Officer Lisa Jones (lwjones@uic.edu) with questions.
The UIC courses that address ISBE requirements can be accessed in the section entitled "Program Resources" in the left hand menu on this page. Make sure you review the courses required for the program (certificate) you are pursuing.