The funding will provide up to 85 students with summer coursework for Science of Reading to enhance their understanding of the program as future elementary school educators.
Purdue University Northwest has received $38,000 in grant funding from the Indiana Department of Education that will make it possible for up to 85 education students to take summer coursework to help them understand the Science of Reading initiative that will go into effect for elementary school students in Indiana in the 2024-2025 school year. The coursework will be provided by Keys to Literacy and will give Education students a deeper understanding of the Science of Reading standards they will need to teach as future elementary school educators.
According to an article on Purdue University Northwest’s website, Mary Ann Cahill, who is a professor of Education at the school, was quoted as saying of the Science of Reading initiative, “I think that the Science of Reading is excellent in that it shines a spotlight on phonological awareness and phonics and presenting explicit instruction in those areas. We know that for children who do not have phonological awareness, the ability to hear and manipulate sounds and words, learning to read will be much more challenging for them. The best possible thing that can happen is that teachers learn the specifics of phonological awareness and how to build fluency with phonic skills. Our Education students need to have a bank of teacher knowledge, how to assess for phonological awareness and what strategies are best to use. That is what we are focused on at Purdue Northwest.”
Science of Reading legislation was passed in the state of Indiana in 2023 and it is expected that teaching that responds and correlates to the legislation will go into effect for the 2024-2025 school year. The Science of Reading initiative teaches teachers how to instruct elementary-aged students in how to read by using evidence-based practices. Future educators will learn how to help students retain vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The approach of the initiative is scientific and standardized.
In addition, teachers who will be instructing in literacy at the elementary level are now required to receive a literacy certification via 80 hours of professional development through the Science of Reading, International Dyslexia Association, and Indiana Department of Education standards.
The National Council on Teacher Quality bestowed recognition upon Purdue University Northwest’s Elementary Education program in 2023 for its efforts in teaching Science of Reading Standards.
For more information about Purdue University Northwest, visit the school’s website.