Who is this course for?
This course is designed for educators at every level of the system and anyone who plays a role in helping students learn to read.
Classroom teachers (Pre-K through secondary) will gain evidence-based strategies to strengthen literacy instruction at any grade level. Literacy coaches and reading specialists will deepen their foundation in reading science and take away tools to support the teachers they work with. Special education teachers will find practical approaches for supporting students with diverse learning needs, including structured literacy techniques and multisensory strategies. Administrators — principals, assistant principals, and curriculum leaders — will build the knowledge they need to support and evaluate literacy instruction across their buildings and districts.
Whether you're early in your career or a veteran educator looking to reconnect with the latest research, this course gives you a shared foundation in what the science says about how children learn to read.
What You'll Gain
A deep understanding of the Science of Reading framework: the interdisciplinary body of research from cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics and education that describes how children develop reading and writing skills.
Practical, classroom-ready strategies for teaching phonological awareness, systematic phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension — strategies educators report implementing almost immediately after learning them.
Tools to integrate current research into everyday instruction, including approaches for supporting multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
Confidence to align your literacy instruction with New York State Education Department guidelines, backed by a curriculum developed in direct collaboration with NYSED.
30 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours toward your state certification requirements.
A professional learning experience designed around how professional educators learn best— through participation, reflection, real-world application and the space to connect new knowledge to your existing classroom experience.
Course Format
The course consists of 10 modules — five synchronous (live on Zoom) and five asynchronous (self-paced) — totaling approximately 30 hours.
Cost: Completely free. The course is funded through a New York State grant as part of the governor's Back to Basics initiative, removing cost as a barrier to high-quality professional learning.
Format: 10 modules alternating between live and self-paced sessions.
Delivery: All sessions are hosted virtually on Zoom. There is nothing to travel to — you can participate from anywhere.
Duration: Approximately 30 hours across the full course.
Assessments: Module quizzes, reflective discussions and practical assignments. These are designed to reinforce learning and connect course content to your own practice, not to create additional stress.
CTLE Credit: Qualifying participants earn 30 CTLE hours toward state teacher certification requirements.
Who built it: The course was created by NYSUT ELT, the statewide union’s professional learning and development division led by classroom teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches. For the Science of Reading, NYSUT ELT collaboration with the New York State Education Department. NYSED's literacy experts reviewed materials, made edits, and provided signoff before any content was released to ensure this course content aligns with their standards.