This program is currently not accepting any new students. Please check back in spring 2012 for updates.

Reading Skills Essential for Special Needs Children to Succeed in Life

Special needs children who do not learn to read at an early age are destined to struggle throughout their entire lives. To help these children succeed in life, special education professionals need advanced training in the design of effective reading programs, increased understanding of reading fundamentals, ability to access reading skills in students, and advanced instructional strategies for teaching reading skills.

Penn State shares your mission to help make life better for children with special needs. To help you meet your goals, Penn State World Campus has partnered with the College of Education to offer you a distance education Certificate in Reading Instruction for Special Education.

Penn State Certificate in Reading Instruction for Special Education (RISE)

The focus of Penn State’s RISE program is to help you acquire advanced training in effective reading instruction for upper elementary and secondary students with special learning needs, and to help you obtain professional development credits such as Act 48 hours in Pennsylvania.

Instruction is provided by the same faculty who lecture on campus, and offered via DVD lectures, customized course materials, and supplemental online activities. As a student, you will have two options for completing the fourth and final course in the curriculum: you can either attend a summer conference at Penn State and submit related assignments, or complete a pre-approved, in-service project.

Act 48 Approved

Penn State is an Act 48-approved provider for Pennsylvania educators, so the courses for the postbaccalaureate certificate in reading instruction for special education may count toward professional development hours.

Who Should Apply

This program is intended for:

• special education teachers and administrators
• general education teachers and administrators
• reading specialists
• speech and language pathologists
• educational consultants
• higher-education faculty who are responsible for reading instruction

Please note that this program does not lead to initial teacher certification, however, this program may help you to renew your certification. Check with your state's Department of Education for exact requirements for recertification.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

This certificate program is intended to help in-career professionals obtain additional specialized training and professional development.

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than a decade of experience in online learning. We strive to create an online learning environment that brings you as close to the face-to-face experience as possible. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.