Reading

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What is the Reading Endorsement?
How do I add the Reading Endorsement to my Certificate?

Individual and Group Applications are being revised.
 

What is the Reading Endorsement?

The University System of Georgia Reading Consortium (USGRC) has designed a Reading Endorsement for Georgia's P-12 classroom teachers. The Georgia Reading Endorsement was officially approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in the Fall 1998.

The USGRC identified three strands which should be addressed by programs offering an endorsement: a) theories of reading and the reading process, b) linking assessment and instruction, and c) instructional strategies specific to the content areas of individual classroom teachers. Consortium members also developed two models for delivering the endorsement content: a) The Summer Reading Institute and follow-up classroom implementation, and b) a distance learning approach utilizing web-based classes.

NGCSU's approach to offering the Reading Endorsement:

North Georgia College & State University will offer the reading endorsement for attachment to an existing Georgia certificate. NGCSU offers a variety of tracks toward obtaining this endorsement.

Completely online courses:

The three graduate courses required for this endorsement include:

• LART 7200 Trends and Practices in Reading Education
• LART 7300 Assessment in Literacy Instruction
• LART 7380 Materials and Reading (for elementary teachers only)
• or LART 7340 (Teaching Reading & Writing in the Middle/Secondary Schools

These courses are available at NGCSU completely online and may be taken for professional learning or graduate (3 semester hours or 5 PLU credits per course). A single application is required for professional learning units. An additional application to the Graduate School at North Georgia College & State University is required for graduate credit. These courses may be applied as electives in some Master's degree programs; please check with your advisor about this option before enrolling in the courses.

Students enrolled in these courses will need to meet on campus at the beginning of the semester in order to complete an introduction to the technology component of the distance learning approach.

Contact Connie Kenney for more information concerning this option.

Onsite school/district level program:

NGCSU will coordinate an onsite program or institute for schools or districts with a group of 20 or more participants. These programs may be run throughout a school year or as a summer institute with application of knowledge during the following school year.

Contact Dr. Toni Bellon for more information concerning this option.

Each of the above options must include a field-based experience. Most endorsement level students are employed in P-12 schools, which provides direct contact with schools and students. Reading endorsement participants are expected to apply advanced knowledge and skills in their respective classrooms. Students completing the NGCSU Master's degree program will plan a capstone experience that has direct linkage to school improvement and/or action research in their schools or classrooms.

How do I add the Reading Endorsement to my Certificate?

You have to apply for it when you have completed the coursework. Grades and your degree (if  
applicable) have to be posted by the Registrar before anything can be processed.  Please follow the directions below.

The Georgia Professional standards commission
Certification Application Packet

NGCSU INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE CERTIFICATION PACKET
Please read through this packet and these instructions completely before beginning.

Complete the entire Georgia PSC Certification Application, front and back, and the top portion of the Approved Program Recommendation form, ending with your date of birth. (These forms are on the PSC website: www.gapsc.com).  Complete the certification demographics form.  Demographics Form  If the PSC’s Certification Channel does not indicate that you have satisfied GACE I and GACE II, ENCLOSE A COMPLETE COPY OF YOUR GACE SCORES INCLUDING THE BACK PAGE. (The ESOL, Gifted, Reading and TSS endorsements do not require GACE II.) If any of your course work has been taken for staff development, enclose all of your PLU completion forms.  If you have taken courses for college credit, complete the transcript request form marking the final destination as “teacher certification”. Transcript Request Form  If you chose the “test-out” option for satisfying the technology requirement, include that certificate.   Submit the entire packet to the Registrar's Office.  They will issue an official transcript, stamp the college seal, and forward your packet to the Teacher Education Department. 

If this is NOT your first clear-renewable certificate, the PSC will charge a $20.00 fee. If you are employed, you may submit the Employer Assurance Form, found on the PSC website, signed by the county superintendent or central office designee, to exempt the $20.00 fee. This form may be sent directly to the PSC by your county office. Also, in some cases, the county office will prefer to submit the form to the PSC electronically. Send your packet directly to the Registrar’s Office. They will affix the seal and, if applicable, run a transcript of any coursework you may have taken for college credit (if you have enclosed a transcript request). The Registrar’s Office will then forward the packet to Teacher Education.

We no longer mail certification packets to the county offices.  We will mail it either to you or directly to the PSC.  If you would like it returned to you, please enclose a self-addressed envelope. (It is not necessary to include postage.) After about two (2) weeks, you can track the status of your certification on the PSC website at www.gapsc.com.

The Experience Verification Form, found on the PSC website, is only necessary for candidates seeking the Teacher Support Services or Educational Leadership endorsement.

If you have any questions please contact Dana Turner Certification Officer, NGCSU,
at (706) 864-1533.

We do not process ANY college recommendations without the application form and all necessary transcripts/PLUs attached!

Individual Application is being revised.

This application is for all individuals who wish to become reading endorsed by completing online courses at NGCSU for graduate or PLU credit.

This option will include one face-to-face meeting to introduce the technology aspect of the courses, online assignments and interaction, and individualized application within each school/classroom.

Group Application is being revised.

This application is for groups of 20 or more who wish to have NGCSU faculty offer the reading at their school or district site.

This option will include face-to-face meetings in your district and individualized application within each school/classroom.