{"id":2590,"date":"2022-09-21T09:58:08","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T14:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/?page_id=2590"},"modified":"2026-01-22T10:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T16:50:12","slug":"special-reading","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/special-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Certificate in Special Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_3_5 3_5 fusion-three-fifth fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:10px;--awb-padding-right:10px;--awb-padding-bottom:10px;--awb-padding-left:10px;--awb-bg-size:cover;width:60%;width:calc(60% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.6 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p>The Special Reading graduate certificate is designed to meet the needs of the following professionals:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Current educators, who want to more effectively teach learners who struggle with mastering skills in reading and related language arts<\/li>\n<li>Speech\/language pathologists and school psychologists, who desire additional information to assist them to better support learners who experience reading deficits<\/li>\n<li>School administrators, who are interested in improving remedial \/ special reading programs in their school or district<\/li>\n<li>Current or future educational policy makers, who wish to enhance their understanding of the unique needs of learners who struggle in the areas of reading and related language arts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Successful completion of the K-12 Special Reading Graduate Certificate will prepare graduates for special reading licensure from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.<\/p>\n<p>The need for effective educators knowledgeable of strategies for teaching learners who experience reading difficulties is becoming even more critical. Shortages of uniquely qualified reading specialists are reported locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally. In addition to learning how to advocate for effective and responsive education for learners who experience reading difficulties, graduate students should gain the following from coursework in the K-12 Special Reading Graduate Certificate program:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A deep understanding of fundamental issues associated with teaching learners who experience reading difficulties<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Specific skills associated with formal and informal assessment and remediation of reading deficits<\/li>\n<li>Knowledge to create meaningful literacy experiences for learners who demonstrate difficulties in reading and related language arts<\/li>\n<li>Response to intervention techniques to guide instructional decision-making<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Training in analytical and critical thinking methods<\/li>\n<li>Professional licensure (for the State of Missouri and reciprocal licensure states) in K-12 Special Reading (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Two programs in K-12 Special Reading are offered at the graduate level:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Graduate Certificate in Special Reading<\/li>\n<li>Graduate Certificate in Special Reading, with State of Missouri licensure to teach in K-12 public schools<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator-border sep-double\" style=\"--awb-height:20px;--awb-amount:20px;border-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);border-top-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-0 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-1 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element in-legacy-container\" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"288\" alt=\"Dr. Kipton Smilie\" title=\"Dr. Kipton Smilie\" src=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2022\/02\/Dr.-Kipton-Smilie_320x288.png\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2022\/02\/Dr.-Kipton-Smilie_320x288-200x180.png 200w, https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2022\/02\/Dr.-Kipton-Smilie_320x288.png 320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-2 fusion_builder_column_inner_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-reading-box-container reading-box-container-1\" style=\"--awb-title-color:#333333;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:84px;\"><div class=\"reading-box\" style=\"background-color:#f6f6f6;border-width:1px;border-color:#f6f6f6;border-top-width:3px;border-top-color:var(--primary_color);border-style:solid;\"><h2>Dr. Kipton Smilie<\/h2><div class=\"reading-box-additional fusion-reading-box-additional\">\n<p>Education Graduate Program Director &amp; Professor<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:educgrad@missouriwestern.edu\">educgrad@missouriwestern.edu<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"tel:+18162714301\">(816) 271-4301<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-two-fifth fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:4px;--awb-padding-right:10px;--awb-padding-bottom:10px;--awb-padding-left:10px;--awb-bg-size:cover;width:40%;width:calc(40% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.4 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element fusion-image-align-center in-legacy-container\" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" alt=\"Teacher assists students in the classroom\" title=\"Teacher assists students in the classroom\" src=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2018\/03\/iStock_000023266395Large.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-1750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2018\/03\/iStock_000023266395Large-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2018\/03\/iStock_000023266395Large-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2018\/03\/iStock_000023266395Large.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"accordian fusion-accordian\" style=\"--awb-border-size:1px;--awb-icon-size:13px;--awb-content-font-size:12pt;--awb-icon-alignment:left;--awb-hover-color:#f9f9f9;--awb-border-color:#cccccc;--awb-background-color:rgba(255,199,0,0.3);--awb-divider-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);--awb-divider-hover-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);--awb-icon-color:#ffffff;--awb-title-color:#89385b;--awb-content-color:#000000;--awb-icon-box-color:#333333;--awb-toggle-hover-accent-color:#3a3a3a;--awb-title-font-family:&quot;Oswald&quot;;--awb-title-font-weight:400;--awb-title-font-style:normal;--awb-title-font-size:18px;--awb-title-line-height:1.5;--awb-content-font-family:&quot;Open Sans&quot;;\"><div class=\"panel-group fusion-toggle-icon-boxed\" id=\"accordion-2590-1\"><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default panel-fe871ccdd12152fa6 fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\" id=\"toggle_fe871ccdd12152fa6\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"fe871ccdd12152fa6\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-2590-1\" data-target=\"#fe871ccdd12152fa6\" href=\"#fe871ccdd12152fa6\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box active-icon awb-icon-minus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><i class=\"fa-fusion-box inactive-icon awb-icon-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Course Requirements<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"fe871ccdd12152fa6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"toggle_fe871ccdd12152fa6\"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.missouriwestern.edu\/graduate\/programs\/special-reading-graduate-certificate\/#requirementstext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to view the course requirements in the MWSU Course Catalog.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-3 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:15px;--awb-padding-right:15px;--awb-padding-bottom:15px;--awb-padding-left:15px;--awb-bg-color:#f9f9f9;--awb-bg-color-hover:#f9f9f9;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-margin-top:15px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">About Our Graduate Programs<\/h3>\n<p>Delivery:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/online\/\">100% online<\/a><br \/>\nApplication Deadlines:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin-top: -20px;\">\n<li>1 week before each semester begins. <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.missouriwestern.edu\/academic-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Check our Academic Calendar here!<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/businessoffice\/tuition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tuition Information<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/graduate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Graduate School<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Student Videos<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/program\/\">Graduate Program\/Courses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/online\/\">Online Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/interaction\/\">Teacher\/Peer Interaction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/goals\/\">Real World Application<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/capstone-project\/\">Capstone Project Process<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Program Contact<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:educgrad@missouriwestern.edu\">educgrad@missouriwestern.edu<\/a><br \/>\n111 Murphy Hall<br \/>\n816-271-4301<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-modal modal fade modal-1 admission\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"dialog\" aria-labelledby=\"modal-heading-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"--awb-border-color:#ebebeb;--awb-background:#ffffff;\"><div class=\"modal-dialog modal-lg\" role=\"document\"><div class=\"modal-content fusion-modal-content\"><div class=\"modal-header\"><button class=\"close\" type=\"button\" data-dismiss=\"modal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close\">&times;<\/button><h3 class=\"modal-title\" id=\"modal-heading-1\" data-dismiss=\"modal\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Admission Requirements<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"modal-body fusion-clearfix\">\n<p>Requirements for admission to any graduate program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Education option (SPED)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Bachelor\u2019s degree in Education or a closely related field from an accredited College or University.<\/li>\n<li>Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 minimum<\/li>\n<li>Provide transcripts of all previously completed university level work \u2013 both Undergraduate and Graduate.<\/li>\n<li>Statement of Purpose: A one-page narrative which describes his\/her purpose for seeking admission to a graduate program, as well as what he\/she hopes to gain from the experience<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>TEACH Grant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Federal Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is intended to assist students in becoming highly-qualified teachers and is available to those who are completing coursework in a TEACH Grant-eligible program \u2013 a high-need field. Both TESOL and SPED qualify as areas of critical need.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, go to link:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/federal-teach-grant\/\">https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/federal-teach-grant\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"modal-footer\"><button class=\"fusion-button button-default button-medium button default medium\" type=\"button\" data-dismiss=\"modal\">Close<\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><h2>Tell Me More<\/h2><div id=\"form_80ec6863-edd4-4bd2-bbc4-94299c4c6566\">Loading...<\/div><script async=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/apply.missouriwestern.edu\/register\/?id=80ec6863-edd4-4bd2-bbc4-94299c4c6566&output=embed&div=form_80ec6863-edd4-4bd2-bbc4-94299c4c6566 \">\/**\/<\/script><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2590","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-31 22:13:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2590"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7262,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2590\/revisions\/7262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}