A reading endorsement may be added to any existing Georgia teaching certificate. The program is designed to strengthen and enhance the basic competency levels of any certified classroom teacher to teach reading and literacy instruction appropriate for his or her teaching field. Graduate candidates may elect to pursue a reading endorsement concurrently while fulfilling the requirements of a major in early childhood education, middle-grades education or secondary education.

The Reading-Endorsement course sequence is designed to develop competencies in:

1. Knowledge and beliefs about the psychological, sociological, linguistic and anthropological foundations of reading and writing instruction;
2. Use of a wide range of materials and instructional practices, including technology-based practices, for effective literacy instruction for learners at various stages of development and from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds;
3. The use of informal and formal assessment methods for the identification of students’ reading strengths and weaknesses and for guidance in designing reading and writing instruction;
4. Creating literacy environments that foster the use of reading and writing as tools for life-long learning; and
5. Knowledge and dispositions toward the use of a variety of professional development resources to support effective reading instruction across the content areas for diverse learners.

To earn the endorsement the student shall be working toward or currently hold a professional certificate at the bachelor’s or higher certification level in a teaching field.