University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University
Online Professional Development
Inspiring Innovation.
UW-Stout can help you achieve your goals.

Inspiring Innovation.
UW-Stout can help you achieve your goals.
Are you seeking an advancement in your reading career?
Enhance your literacy coaching skills in providing support and intervention for struggling readers.
Spring 2018 - $441 per semester hour graduate credit ($1,323 per course)
Tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state and international students.
E-textbooks are included in the tuition fee.
You may enroll in the three courses to complete the add-on Wisconsin Reading Specialist Certification if you hold a current Wisconsin reading teacher license.
Register now to reserve a spot for fall 2018.
There is no registration fee to reserve a class.
Complete the Online Registration Request Form
This program is very popular, and courses fill well before the start date.
The reading specialist courses are offered two times each year (January and September).
Registration is available until the class is filled or five days before the course begins.
Yes, only 8 additional classes are required to obtain your Master of Science in Education graduate degree.
You do not need to apply for graduate admission to the university unless you are beginning the Master of Science in Education graduate degree at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Our students include
Yes, just Register Online
No application is required for educators who enroll in courses for:
Download the Reading Specialist Certification Program Application Form
Email the application to Emily Hines at hinese@uwstout.edu
Prerequisites
If you have questions about your current Wisconsin teaching license, obtaining a Wisconsin reading teaching license, or the verification of your teaching experience, contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at (608) 266-0452 or (608) 266-2386.
Prerequisites
Eligibility is determined by reviewing:
A maximum of three graduate credits completed within the past five years may be transferred pending a syllabus review. Final project(s) completed within the transfer course will be considered and submitted into the required e-portfolio.
Transfer credits may only apply to the first course in the reading specialist certification sequence of courses (RDGED 720).
NOTE: The last two courses (RDGED 721 and RDGED 722) must be taken from University of Wisconsin-Stout to demonstrate competencies using specific literacy coaching tools, building/district literacy data analysis, and professional development needs assessments.
If you are considering an online academic program that leads to a professional license, it is highly recommended you contact the appropriate licensing agency before beginning your academic program.
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) does not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs and individual graduates must meet standards set by your state’s licensure requirements in order for a graduate to be eligible for a license. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) provision for this requirement can be found on pg. 10 herein:
http://nc-sara.org/files/docs/NC-SARA_Policies_Standards.pdf
Contact your state's accrediting agency, State Board of Education or other certifying agency and obtain a statement regarding the coursework requirements in your state. They will assist you in verifying the applicability of this reading specialist certification to your state's requirements. Each state has different certification requirements.
A reading specialist license is required for any person who directs early childhood through adolescent reading programs or works with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading or literacy coach.
What are the job responsibilities of a reading specialist?
Per s.118.015(3), Wis. Stats., a reading specialist shall: develop and implement a reading curriculum in grades Kindergarten to 12, act as a resource person to classroom teachers to implement the reading curriculum, work with administrators to support and implement the reading curriculum, conduct an annual evaluation of the reading curriculum, and coordinate the reading curriculum with other reading programs and other support services within the school district.
Phone: 715-642-0209
School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
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“This course opened my eyes to the all-encompassing responsibilities of the reading specialist.
I feel that I can be a person who can lead change, who can develop and support a reading program through collaboration and communication, and who will make data driven decisions based upon best practice.”
~ Caryl Kidd, Title One Teacher
“This course was a great opportunity for me to reflect on myself as a reading specialist/literacy coach and has given me more confidence.”
~ Jaimie Howe, Literacy Coach
“The skills I gained will allow me to provide valuable coaching and staff training to make our reading program an effective program for all students.
~ Karen Thoen, Reading Teacher
"I appreciated the ability to complete the program online. As a full-time teacher and mother of two young children, this was really the only option for me."
~ Reading Specialist Graduate
"I loved being able to prepare materials that I could actually use in my position/school. For instance, creating professional development, resources for teachers, etc."
~ Reading Specialist Graduate
"The information learned transferred directly. I don't feel as though anything was "fluff" or "filler." The instructors were ALL professional and held us to high standards."
~ Reading Specialist Graduate