Policy, mandating early screening for dyslexia and use of specific interventions, is increasing throughout the United States. The authors designed a descriptive case study to learn what impact policies have on practice and how literacy specialists, trained in both comprehensive and structured literacy approaches, provide support for students. Data…

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the self-efficacy beliefs of 25 literacy specialist candidates in three key leadership areas before and after 15-week internships in schools. The three leadership areas, identified by university faculty as important to the leadership role of literacy specialists in schools today, are: 1)…

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore the ways in which one specialized literacy professional (SLP) navigated and reflected on coaching conversations with teachers. The participants for this study were one elementary school SLP and two classroom teachers at the same school. Coaching conversations the SLP held with teachers, the…

Specialized literacy professionals (specialists/coaches/coordinators) are enacting leadership roles that influence how school communities interact and collaborate to change instructional practices. These positions involve multiple responsibilities highlighted in the standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (International Literacy…

This study examined the motivation, perceptions/future plans, and expectations of postgraduate students (referred to as literacy coaching candidates) enrolled in the first course of a Literacy Coaching Endorsement program at a large comprehensive institution of higher education. Results from data focus to: What motivates a licensed Reading…

This large-scale national survey of specialized literacy professionals was designed to answer questions about responsibilities, including leadership, and preparation for these roles. Questionnaires, completed by over 2,500 respondents, indicated that respondents had multiple responsibilities that included both instruction of struggling readers and…

Examines the Decoding Skills Test (DST), a criterion referenced, diagnostic instrument designed to identify deficiencies in word decoding. (JC)

In order to evaluate the M.Ed. in Reading Program at William Paterson College (New Jersey), a study surveyed 56 recent graduates of the program for their responses to three questions: (1) How do graduates evaluate the total program and its components? (2) How "professional" are the graduates? and (3) How well do graduates do in the…

The vocabulary development curriculum offered by developmental reading programs in Georgia postsecondary institutions was studied. A total of 49 reading specialists from 39 institutions completed a questionnaire that covered: emphasis placed on vocabulary development, practices followed in expanding students' vocabularies, and the materials used…

A checklist to rate competencies of college reading specialists is presented, along with background information about the instrument. Based on a review of the literature on professional standards for specialists, five broad categories of competencies were developed: undergraduate training, instruction, research and measurement, administrative and…

This handbook was designed to assist reading/language arts support personnel in developing a sequential, developmental program suited to each child's needs. The first of the book's five major sections outlines the procedures for establishing a successful program and discusses such factors as how to create the working environment, schedule time,…