Connecticut Literacy Specialist Program
102 and 097 Certification and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Literacy
The Connecticut Literacy Specialist Program (CLSP) provides professional education to graduate candidates in the area of Reading and Language Arts. The overall goal of the program is to prepare candidates to lead educators and school districts into the best practices of school reform available in the twenty-first century. Candidates become knowledgeable proponents of action research and change agents assisting schools in promoting community literacy as well as student performance. The CLSP prepares graduates to promote literacy from a variety of positions within a school system. Candidates’ training will give them the skills to lead staff development, run intervention clinics, chair appropriate departments, manage summer programs, write grants, or provide all of these services in single-school settings. Candidates will study reading and language from a much broader perspective than that of a classroom teacher. Study will include systemic evaluation and programming, the training and supervision of professionals, paraprofessionals, and the utilization of community resources. Further, candidates develop competence through a supervised practicum on and off campus, including a university-based reading clinic. Graduates will be prepared to assume the leadership role in any school system seeking expertise in the area of reading and language arts, perform independent research, or pursue doctoral study. The CLSP accommodates part-time candidates who are currently teaching in a school system.
The CLSP program consists of Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification, the Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097) Certification, and the CAS in Literacy. The CLSP is a 36-credit program that is developed in collaboration with an advisor. Candidates applying for the CLSP must have a valid teaching certificate and have taken a course in special education. The CLSP accommodates part-time candidates who are currently teaching in a school system.
The program is available to certified teachers with a master’s degree and a minimum of 30 months classroom experience as a teacher. Candidates are eligible to apply for state reading certification after the successful completion of program requirements and 30 months classroom teaching under a valid teaching certificate.
Tier I: Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification
The Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification requires 21 credits of study. Candidates may complete these credits as part of a post-baccalaureate degree (MAT or CAS). To be recommended for certification, candidates must provide evidence of meeting 30 months of classroom experience as a teacher.
Tier II: Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097) Certification
The prerequisite for admittance into the 097 program is the Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts Certificate. Therefore, candidates applying for admittance into the program must have a valid teaching certificate, 30 months of full-time teaching experience, and have completed all program requirements as stipulated within the 102 plan of study.
CAS in Literacy
Candidates may complete their CAS (sixth-year degree) in the Connecticut Literacy Specialist Program with the addition of one additional course (3 credits) beyond the 33 credits of requirements listed above.
Program Requirements
Sequences I and II are program requirements for Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification.
Sequence I—Classroom Instruction (9 credits)
| EDR 505 | Early Reading & Language Arts Success (PK-Grade 3) (formerly ED 513) | 3 |
| EDR 507 | Developmental Reading & Language Arts (Grades 4-6) | 3 |
| EDR 510 | Content Area Reading Instruction (Grades 7-12) | 3 |
Sequence II (12 credits)
| EDR 540 | Advanced Diagnosis & Remediation I | 3 |
| EDR 545 | Assessment & Evaluation: CT Model | 3 |
| EDR 550 | Clinical Experience I | 3 |
| EDR 555 | Clinical Experience II | 3 |
EDR 540, EDR 545, EDR 550, EDR 555: Course required for (102) certification.
Upon successful completion of the first seven courses, candidates apply for Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification.
Sequence III includes program requirements for Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097) Certification. Prerequisite: Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certificate.
Sequence III (12 credits)
| EDR 527 | Organization, Administration, & Supervision: Reading Professional | 3 |
| EDR 541 | Advanced Diagnosis & Remediation II | 3 |
| EDR 691 | Practicum in Consulting | 3 |
| EDR 692 | Applied Reading & Language Arts Research | 3 |
EDR 527, EDR 541, EDR 691, EDR 692: Indicates course required for 097 certification and is available to CLSP students only.
Candidates may then select to complete their sixth-year degree in the Connecticut Literacy Specialist Program with the addition of three more credits in literacy for a total of 36 credits in all.
Sequence IV (3 credits)
Choose one:
| EDR 518 | Reading & Language Arts: Instruction & Assessment (formerly ED 518) | 3 |
| EDR 520 | Methods of Teaching & Evaluating the Writing Process | 3 |
| EDR 525 | Methods & Materials for English Language Learners | 3 |
| EDR 552 | Language Arts Practicum | 3 |
| EDR 560 | Children's Literature (formerly ED 515) | 3 |
| EDR 562 | Middle School Literature | 3 |
| EDR 564 | Young-Adult Literature (formerly ED 505) | 3 |
| EDR 580 | Reading Interventions | 3 |
| EDR 620 | Utilizing Technology in Reading Instruction (formerly ED 686) | 3 |
| EDR 690 | Practicum: Teaching Fellowship - Staff Development | 3 |