Our programs
Reading Specialist Certification
Certifying teachers and leaders with an IDA-accredited Reading Specialist licensure endorsement in partnership with Lipscomb University.
Begun in 2021, the RSC program is a 13-month cohort for veteran teachers and leaders pursuing a TN Department of Education Reading Specialist endorsement through 21-credit hour graduate coursework and clinical experiences.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Our goal is to attract a cohort of Reading Specialist participants who represent the diversity of our city in terms of gender, race, and teaching context.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are now closed. See below for details.
The seventh cohort will run May 2027 through summer 2028.
The program is a partnership between Lipscomb University and the Memphis Literacy Institute consisting of 21 credit hours of graduate coursework. Majority of credit hours are taught in person, with some courses offered online to support working professionals.
Candidates receive direct practice through summer clinical experiences with students participating in MTR Camp (June 2027).
Eligibility: Applicants must be local Memphis educators or leaders who hold an active Tennessee teaching license (practitioner or professional). They must have at least three years of experience as Teacher of Record upon completion of the program. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for all undergraduate or graduate coursework.
APPLICATION WINDOWS
APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AND ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS. Apply early for the best opportunity to secure your spot and tuition support!
ROUND 1
PRIORITY DEADLINE:
OCTOBER 20, 2026
Acceptances offered by: November 20, 2026
Benefits: Early interview invitations, first offers, and scholarship priority
ROUND 2
STANDARD DEADLINE:
NOVEMBER 29, 2025
Acceptances offered by: December 18, 2026
ROUND 3
FINAL DEADLINE:
JANUARY 10, 2027
Acceptances offered by: February 12, 2027
PROGRAM FEES
$5,000
for the 21-hour Certification program
$278/credit hour$2,500
for MTR graduates & alumni
50% discount$898
course materials fee
INCLUDES COST OF ALL course texts. due upon program enrollment.~$37
background check & fingerprinting
ACTUAL COST VARIES BY LOCATIONScholarships are pending to K-5 MSCS ELA & ESL teachers, as well as high-needs charter school teachers.PROGRAM COURSES
-
Foundations of Literacy I
6 Hours
Candidates will understand that reading development is a complex process as they explore why reading is difficult for many students. Rooted in key research, candidates will learn about the specific neurological processes that occur during reading. This class will cover how language and literacy are related, emphasizing the early development of reading, including phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, orthography, fluency, syllabication, assessments, and early intervention strategies. Candidates will apply course learning to their current work with students, complete lesson plans, and participate in an ongoing case study.
-
Foundations of Literacy II
3 Hours
This course focuses on vocabulary and comprehension development. Candidates will understand reading comprehension, sentence structure, and text structure. Candidates will also study key strategies to support these domains, exploring the connection between reading and writing. Candidates will apply their learning through an ongoing case study, analyzing student work, and planning instruction based on core competencies from the course. This core will prepare students to implement text-driven instruction and design purposeful and effective scaffolds to support reading comprehension.
-
The Reading & Writing Connection
3 Hours
This course is designed to study theories and specific examples on the teaching of writing. Candidates will build a skill set for empowering, supporting, and providing feedback to developing writers. Students will focus on the interdependence of a child’s language, reading, and writing, and the implications these have for academic achievement and personal development over time.
-
Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners
3 Hours
This course is designed to develop the ability to use a variety of instructional approaches as needed to support multiple ways for P12 students to access knowledge, represent knowledge, and demonstrate the attainment of academic goals and competencies. Candidates will demonstrate an understanding of the learner and the doing. This course is designed to support teaching to meet student differences and needs in a sensitive and reflective manner by discussing issues related to diverse classrooms.
-
Literacy Assessment & Tiered Systems of Support
3 Hours
This course will present students with best and current practices and principles of assessment across the curriculum. Topics will include reliability, validity, bias, performance assessment, standardized test score interpretation, and formative assessment. The formal and informal instruments and procedures will be studied with emphasis on formative assessment and the principles of effective, standards-based instruction. Design and administration and interpretation of assessment measures is the primary focus of this course.
-
Literacy Practicum
3 Hours
This course consists of a series of culminating experiences, drawing on learning throughout the program. Candidates will work with individual and small groups of students in an elementary and secondary setting. Candidates will assess students’ literacy skills, create an appropriate intervention plan for those deficiencies, and implement the plan while receiving feedback from a clinical mentor and engaging in reflective practice. Candidates will build a professional portfolio demonstrating their ability to assess and support students’ specific literacy needs.
-
Summer Clinical
Candidates will apply concepts from Foundations of Literacy I in this clinical experience in partnership with MTR camp. Foundations of Literacy I professor team will provide coaching and targeted support.
PROGRAM FAQS
-
Upon successful completion of the program, you will be endorsed by the state of Tennessee as a certified Reading Specialist. Because our program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), you will also take the KPEERI exam. With a passing score, you will be eligible to apply for the Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher Knowledge Certificate through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). In addition, the 21 graduate credit hours earned in the program may be applied toward future graduate study, including master’s, specialist, or doctoral programs.
-
To be eligible for the program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree and/or graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and have an active Tennessee teaching license. You must also have at least two years of experience as a teacher of record at the time of enrollment and a minimum of three years by the time you complete the program.
-
Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis with three deadlines. Apply early for the best opportunity to secure your spot and tuition support!
Priority Round 1 Deadline: October 26, 2025
Standard Round 2 Deadline: November 30, 2025
Final Round 3 Deadline: January 18, 2026 -
After you submit your application, our team will review your materials. If selected to move forward, you will be contacted within two weeks to schedule a virtual interview.
-
All applicants will be notified of their admissions decision by the end of February 2026.
-
The total tuition for the MTR Reading Specialist Certification program is $5,000, or approximately $278 per credit hour, making it significantly more affordable than the national average for similar programs.
In addition to tuition, participants should plan to pay $898 for course materials and textbooks, as well as a $37 background check fee. These costs are nonrefundable and are due upon program enrollment.
Tuition can be paid in full, by term, or through a monthly payment plan.
-
Tentatively, but expected is tuition assistance for a select number of MSCS K-5 ELA/ESL teachers and charter educators. Scholarships are on a first come, first serve basis, so we recommend applying early. MTR graduates and alumni are eligible for a tuition discount.
-
The program begins with online pre-work in the spring, followed by orientation and a 3-week Clinical Practice during the summer (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) at MTR Camp. Additional time outside of class is needed to complete coursework. During the school year, candidates attend weekly in-person classes on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at MTR’s Crosstown offices. The program concludes with a second 3-week Clinical Practice the following June. All major holidays and MSCS school breaks are observed.
-
In-person attendance is required for all summer clinical coursework, as mandated by state requirements. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate scheduling conflicts. Please review the dates carefully before applying to ensure full participation.
-
The Reading Specialist Certification Program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), a national organization that sets rigorous standards for structured literacy preparation. This means our coursework, clinical practice, and assessments meet the highest standards for preparing educators to teach reading based on the science of reading.
-
Yes. Throughout the program, participants complete performance-based assessments tied to coursework and clinical practice. Upon completion of the program, Reading Specialists will take the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI), a nationally recognized exam aligned with IDA standards.
"This program has truly been life-changing. It’s completely transformed how I think about teaching reading—and I know my instruction will change my students’ lives. Like we say at MLI, literacy is freedom. By giving students the skills they need to be readers, we’re giving them power and knowledge that can never be taken away… If every teacher could have this experience, the impact on our city would be unreal."
—Nicole Van de Vuurst, 4th Grade ELA, St. George’s Memphis
