Newman University releases guide distinguishing Reading Specialist Degree from Reading Endorsement in Kansas. The MSED Reading Specialist - Dyslexia Emphasis program achieves IDA Accreditation PLUS status, preparing educators for state licensure and national dyslexia therapy certifications.
-- Newman University has released a comparison guide clarifying the critical distinctions between a Reading Specialist Degree and a Reading Endorsement in Kansas, addressing confusion among working teachers navigating state licensure pathways. The guide arrives as Newman's MSED Reading Specialist - Dyslexia Emphasis program becomes the first in Kansas to achieve International Dyslexia Association Accreditation PLUS status, offering educators a dual certification path toward both Kansas Reading Specialist licensure and national dyslexia therapy credentials through KPEERI or ALTA exams. While the university grants the 30-credit master's degree, the Kansas State Department of Education issues the endorsement-a school specialist credential added to an existing teaching license-after verifying program completion, experience, and a passing score of 165 on the Praxis Reading Specialist exam.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/msed/msed-reading-specialist
Kansas classifies Reading Specialist as a school specialist endorsement rather than a standard teaching credential. The state requires a graduate degree, completion of an approved program, a minimum 3.25 GPA, teaching experience, a valid professional license, and successful performance on the Praxis 5302 assessment. KSDE offers provisional licensure pathways allowing educators who have completed at least half of an approved program to begin working in specialist roles under a two-year renewable license while finishing coursework, then progress through initial and professional licensure stages that include district-administered mentoring and performance assessments.
The guide responds to heightened urgency created by Kansas Senate Bill 438, the Blueprint for Literacy Act passed in April 2024, which mandates structured literacy instruction statewide. The legislation requires training in the science of reading, with a goal for 100 percent of the elementary teacher workforce to achieve a micro-credential in the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy by 2030. With dyslexia affecting up to 20 percent of students according to research cited by the International Dyslexia Association, KSDE has prioritized Science of Reading training and dyslexia identification, creating demand for specialists equipped with evidence-based intervention skills beyond general literacy instruction.
Newman's program addresses these mandates through a 30-credit curriculum designed for working teachers. The structure combines a two-week summer intensive in July with hybrid fall and spring courses that accommodate full-time teaching schedules. Faculty-Certified Academic Language Therapists with over 15 years of dyslexia therapy experience-guide candidates through a longitudinal practicum in which each educator follows a single struggling reader across multiple semesters, documenting assessment, diagnosis, and explicit systematic instruction in a case study. This hands-on structure prepares graduates for the Praxis exam required for state licensure and for national certifications that position them as dyslexia therapists in schools or private practice.
The comparison guide clarifies when educators should pursue a full master's degree versus an endorsement-only route. Teachers without a prior graduate credential benefit from the integrated degree program, while those holding a master's in education or a related field may opt for shorter endorsement pathways offered by other Kansas institutions. Both routes ultimately qualify candidates for Reading Specialist roles in PreK-12 settings, but Newman's program combines state licensure preparation with alignment to IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards, meeting the dual demands of Kansas regulatory requirements and emerging national dyslexia therapy standards. The guide also addresses timing considerations, cost structures, and career pathways including literacy coaching, intervention coordination, and reading program leadership.
Newman positions the guide as a transparent resource for Kansas educators navigating credential decisions amid state mandates. Clarity on the degree-versus-endorsement distinction empowers teachers to make informed choices aligned with their professional goals and student needs. Interested educators can contact the School of Education at graduate@newmanu.edu or 316-942-4291 ext. 2144 for program consultations.
For more details, visit https://newmanu.edu/
Contact Info:
Name: Clark Schafer
Email: Send Email
Organization: Newman University
Address: 3100 McCormick , Wichita, Kansas 67213, United States
Website: https://newmanu.edu/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89198032
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