What Is the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement?
Established by the Iowa Department of Education in 2021, the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement (DSE) is intended to meet the growing need for educators who are knowledgeable about evidence-based instructional practices and prepared to support students with dyslexia in the classroom.
The DSE focuses on developing educators’ understanding of the following topics:
- Knowledge of dyslexia
- Psychology of language and reading
- Curriculum and instruction
- Assessment, diagnosis, and evaluation
- Practicum in dyslexia
For a list of educators in Iowa with a DSE, please visit the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) Licenses and Endorsements webpage.
How Can My Institution Offer the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement?
Working in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) has legislative authority to approve practitioner preparation institutions (e.g., colleges and universities) to offer the DSE.
Programs must:
- have a physical presence in the State of Iowa
- be 18 semester hours
- offer two practicum experiences delivering both standardized and formative assessments and evidence-based interventions
- contain coursework to prepare students to meet the State of Iowa Requirements of Endorsees:
- a strong understanding of structured literacy instruction; the neurobiological nature, cognitive-linguistic correlates, developmental indicators, compensatory behaviors, potential psychological factors, and co-occurring disorders of dyslexia;
- demonstrated skill in administering informal and formal assessments related to dyslexia;
- demonstrated skill in delivery of explicit, systematic literacy intervention;
- demonstrated skill in developing and supporting services for students with characteristics of dyslexia including those who are eligible for services under chapter 256B or section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794, as amended;
- demonstrated skill in the design and implementation of accommodations and modifications;
- demonstrated competence in creating a dyslexia-friendly learning environment;
- and demonstrated skill in the use and integration of assistive technology
- require, at a minimum, three years of prior teaching experience and completion of a supervised practical experience
Approved programs shall be required to submit to a biannual review by the IRRC. This will include providing updated course syllabi and CVs for instructors to ensure program requirements and International Dyslexia Association standards are still being met. Programs shall provide updated CVs for instructors any time the program hires a new instructor as the official course instructor of record. The IRRC will initiate the review with approved institutions in the spring semester of alternating years.
Complete the “Application to Offer Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Program in the State of Iowa” packet and Iowa Department of Education program change/new program request form (available by request from idoe.edprep@iowa.gov), and email materials to idoe.edprep@iowa.gov.
- The IRRC, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and the Iowa Department of Education will individually review each application packet. The Iowa Department of Education will notify the applicant of the decision. Please plan for the full review of your application packet to take 2.5-4.5 months. Applicants who are denied are able to resubmit after addressing feedback from the IRRC.
If you have additional questions about creating a program, you can contact us.
What Can a Dyslexia Specialist Offer Schools and Districts?
Educators who complete the Iowa Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement will be able to:
- Identify students with characteristics of dyslexia
- Administer reading assessments and use data to guide instruction
- Implement instructional routines to target specific skills
- Understand the practical implications of research
- Support district decision-making processes
Where Can Educators Obtain a Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement?
Eligibility: Educators must have at least three years of teaching experience in a K-12 setting.
Duration: The program can be completed in a year and a half; completion times will vary for part-time students.
Credits: The program consists of 18 credit hours of coursework.
Location: This program uses a hybrid format of in-person meetings at the University of Iowa and online/remote courses.
Cost: The estimated cost for 18 credit hours is approximately $13,400. Actual costs are subject to the State of Iowa Board of Regents’ policies, which can change annually.
Deadlines: Fall semester applications are due by July 26 (April 15 for international students), and spring semester applications are due by December 1 (October 1 for international students).
Contact: Dr. Shawn Datchuk (shawn-datchuk@uiowa.edu)
Website: education.uiowa.edu/areas-study/education-and-teaching/special-education/dyslexia-specialist-added-endorsement-program
Eligibility: Educators must have at least three years of teaching experience in a K-12 setting.
Duration: This program spans three semesters.
Credits: The program consists of 18 credit hours of coursework.
Location: Courses will be offered online with synchronous learning opportunities. Two classes will have optional, in-person sessions on campus in Des Moines, Iowa.
Cost: Contact program coordinator, Dr. Jaclyn Easter (jeaster@grandview.edu) for information.
Deadlines: Applications are due by April 1 for the first round of admissions decisions. Additional admission will continue on a rolling basis.
Contact: Dr. Jaclyn Easter (jeaster@grandview.edu)
Website: grandview.edu/academics/endorsements/dyslexia-endorsement
DSE Graduates
