Newman University's Master of Science in Education Reading Specialist program with a Dyslexia Emphasis has become the first university program in Kansas to achieve International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Accreditation PLUS status. The program does not require the GRE for applicants who meet the minimum 3.25 GPA requirement. This highest level of recognition from the IDA follows a rigorous peer-review evaluation against the association's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading, signaling that the program meets nationally validated benchmarks for preparing specialists who work with struggling readers. The accreditation distinguishes Newman's program from competing offerings by confirming alignment with evidence-based instructional practices essential for addressing dyslexia, which affects up to 20% of students according to research cited in educational literature.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/msed/msed-reading-specialist
Kansas House Bill 2485 requires at least one licensed reading specialist per elementary school by the 2029-30 school year, creating demand for qualified educators with advanced specialization. The legislation responds to persistent literacy challenges across the state, creating need for professionals equipped with research-based intervention strategies. Newman's program addresses this demand through a 30-credit-hour, 10-course master's degree designed specifically for working teachers. The program offers dual certification pathways that prepare graduates for both Kansas Reading Specialist licensure via the Praxis exam and national dyslexia therapy certification through the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction or the Academic Language Therapy Association exam.
The program employs a strategic hybrid delivery model. Two full-week intensive courses each July provide concentrated instruction in theory and practice, followed by fall and spring courses that accommodate educators' teaching schedules. Students work with a school-aged struggling reader throughout the program, documenting growth through a professional case study that allows candidates to observe intervention effects over time and adjust instruction based on student response. Faculty include Certified Academic Language Therapists with over 15 years of dyslexia therapy experience, bringing field-tested intervention techniques developed through clinical practice. Amy Taylor and Jane Hayes, who co-founded R.E.A.D. Redefined—which itself holds IDA Accreditation PLUS status—serve as adjunct professors and designed the curriculum to emphasize immediate classroom application.
Newman University's School of Education, which houses the MSED Reading Specialist program, is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation in partnership with the Kansas State Board of Education. CAEP accreditation validates both institutional quality and graduate readiness for licensure, reinforcing the program's standing within the educator preparation landscape. This dual recognition—IDA Accreditation PLUS for dyslexia-specific training and CAEP for broader educator preparation standards—positions Newman graduates with credentials that meet state regulatory requirements and national professional benchmarks.
The program's emphasis on translating research into measurable student outcomes distinguishes it from theory-focused alternatives. Students apply evidence-based strategies with real struggling readers throughout their coursework, building diagnostic expertise that extends beyond single-semester practica. Hayes noted in program materials that educators need the application component missing from some programs to address the literacy crisis facing schools. Taylor added that the IDA evaluation from nationally recognized experts gives teachers confidence that their investment of time and resources will yield the specialized skills necessary to meet state mandates and improve student outcomes.
Kansas educators interested in earning nationally recognized credentials while maintaining their current teaching positions can now apply to a program designed specifically for working professionals. The first course for the summer cohort begins in July, with applications open through the program website. The estimated program cost is approximately $13,800 based on $460 per credit hour for graduate education courses. Admission does not require GRE scores for applicants who meet the minimum GPA requirement—removing a common barrier for educators seeking advanced specialization. Applicants need an undergraduate degree in education, current teaching license, minimum 3.25 GPA, a philosophy of education writing sample, and two positive references including one from a supervisor.
For more details, visit https://newmanu.edu/