Who is required to be Reading Endorsed?

• Any K-12 teacher, including ESE and ESOL, who:
  • Provides intensive reading intervention (i.e., MTSS Tier 3)
  • Teach 6-12 grade Reading classes.
  • Teaches reading to retained 3rd graders, including summer camp students.
• Literacy Coaches
• District personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students during internships will be required to have a certificate or endorsement in reading if:
  • Internship takes place in a kindergarten through grade 3 setting.
  • Teacher preparation candidate is enrolled in any of the following programs:
    • Elementary Education (grades K-6)
    • Prekindergarten-Primary Education (Age 3 through grade 3)
    •  Middle Grades English (grades 5-9)
    • English (grades 6-12)
    • Reading (grades K-12)
    • Reading (endorsement)
    • English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12)

Routes to the Reading Endorsement

There are five courses required for the Reading Endorsement. Each course is grounded in research that addresses the six components of reading as a process:

• Competency 1: Foundations of Instruction
• Competency 2: FOR-PD (Research-Based Practices)
• Competency 3: Assessment
• Competency 4: Differentiated Instruction
• Competency 5: Reading Endorsement Practicum

The courses also include the application of research-based reading assessment, reading instruction, and the application and foundations of differentiation.

Option 1: District-Offered Courses through Schultz or PCTA.

• The Schultz Center (register through PLN)
  • This is a self-paced course run through Blackboard Learning.
  • You cannot sign up for more than two Schultz Reading Competency courses per cohort.
  • You will receive an email from your instructor the day before the start of the course with information.
  • If you drop the course, you will be responsible for paying for the course the next time you enroll. 
• Courses are offered in the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.
• After completing your course, the instructor will receive a list of completed participants and will update PLN to reflect the credit.  This can take up to two weeks after the closing date of the course.
• Please read through the course notes before registering.

• Pinellas County Teachers Association (register through PLN)
• This class is offered by PCTA-PESPA. Members of either organization attend free. The cost for non-members is $250 and must be paid by the second day of the course. Non-members can elect to join the union (if eligible) by submitting the required online material, including confirmation of e-dues being set up.
• You must attend ALL 4 sessions AND complete the outside assignments (with membership and/or payment) to receive credit.
• If you have any questions, contact PCTA-PESPA. 

Option 2: Complete any state-approved university Reading Endorsement Program

After completing the requirements to earn a reading endorsement, log into your FLDOE account and complete the District Add Endorsement Application.

There is no longer an option to take a test to meet this requirement.