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Reading Resources for Teacher and Principal Preparation Programs

The Science of Reading and Teacher Preparation

According to Colorado legislation, state policy, rules, and guidance, pre-service elementary, early childhood and special education teachers must have deep training in structured and explicit evidence-based strategies for teaching reading. 

Specifically, pre-service educators must know the science of teaching reading, including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency. 

The Colorado State Board of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) have prioritized ensuring all teacher candidates go into teaching with the understanding and ability to teach reading in these evidence-based ways.

In support of these priorities, the educator preparation authorization and reauthorization process requires direct evidence and outcomes of this approach, which will be incorporated into CDE and Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) recommendations for action to the State Board of Education and CCHE.

CDE's Educator Preparation Office has created this webpage to provide resources to support traditional and alternative educator preparation programs as they embed the science of reading into their programs. 

Questions? Please email the Educator Preparation team.

A colorful graphic with four people reading from books and other devices.



Colorado READ Act Resources

About the Colorado READ Act

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (Colorado READ Act), passed by Colorado legislature in 2012, gave the state the guiding philosophy, structure and resources to get children reading at grade level by the time they enter fourth grade.  In March 2019, the Colorado State Board of Education voted to support legislation to revamp the Colorado READ Act (see News Release for details).  These amendments, approved by legislation in 2019, focused on increased accountability for all parties, reduced reporting and data requirements, ensuring appropriate educator preparation in the science of reading and general streamlining of the legislation.  We've included several links to resources related to the Colorado READ Act below.

CDE Quick Links

Research to Support the Science of Reading in Educator Preparation Programs


Resources

*This list does not comprehensively cover all external organizations or resources related to this topic.  The details provided regarding external organizations are provided for information only.  The Colorado Department of Education does not endorse, represent, or warrant the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content, services, or other materials provided by these educational service providers.  Any reliance upon any information, content, materials, products, services, or vendors included on or found through this listing shall be at the user's sole risk.

General Resources

The following resources are sorted by topic to assist educator preparation program faculty and administrators implement the science of reading in teacher preparation.

Dyslexia 

Structured Literacy

Principal Preparation

Reading Instruction

English Learners and Emergent Bilinguals


Content Resources for Preparation Programs

The resources listed below can be used to support educator and administrator preparation incorporate the science of reading into preparation program curriculum.

Textbooks


Professional Development Resources for Faculty

The resources listed below can be used by educator preparation program faculty as professional development or as tools to teach the science of reading within preparation programs.

  • Self-Paced Courses
    • Reading 101: A Guide to Teaching Reading and Writing (Reading Rockets) A self-paced professional development course for K-3 teachers.  The program provides teachers with an in-depth knowledge of reading and writing so they are prepared to guide their students into becoming skilled and enthusiastic readers and writers.
    • Teaching Foundational Reading Skills (Friday Institute) - A free, online, self-directed course geared to help more effectively prepare students in K-3 with the skills they need to become successful readers.  A certificate of completion for 20 hours (2 CEUs) or 30 hours (3 CEUs) of professional development will be provided upon request to participants who complete certain criteria within the platform.