Certification for Dyslexia Teachers in Texas
Becoming certified to teach dyslexic children in the state of Texas has been updated this past year. This article will discuss the certification process to teach children with dyslexia and explore a special certification also offered.
Texas Certification Requirements to Teach Dyslexic Children
Educating children with learning disabilities like dyslexia requires an individual to be well qualified to meet the special needs of a child. This responsibility involves specialized training for dealing with this learning disability. The importance of meeting the needs of dyslexic children is a priority for the state of Texas and can be seen through the recent changes in the education section of the Texas Administrative Code.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Education/Experience Required'</b></td><td> Bachelor's degree (general) / master's degree (specialized)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Exam Requirements</b></td><td> TExES Exam in Subject Area (general) / TExES Reading Specialist Exam (151) (specialized)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification Renewal Period</b></td><td> 5 Years</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>CPE Credits Required for Renewal</b></td><td> 150 CPE</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary for Texas Teachers (2018)*</b></td><td> Elementary: $56,520 (general)/ $57,770 (special education); Middle School: $56,580 (general)/ $56,960 (special education); High School: $58,190 (general)/ $58,570 (special education)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Estimated Job Growth Nationally (2016-2026)*</b></td><td> Kindergarten and Elementary: 7%; Middle School: 8%; High School: 8%</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---TeachingCertification">Teaching Certification</h3><p>The Texas Education Agency (TEA) sets the standard for obtaining a specialized certification to teach dyslexic children. They have updated their standards to meet the needs of children with dyslexia and have expanded the standard to ensure that all teachers are now prepared and qualified to handle children with this learning disability. A person who would like to be certified to teach dyslexic students must have a Texas teaching certification.
</p><p>The process and requirements for this are:
</p><ul><li><b>Education</b>: Earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
</li><li><b>Preparation</b>: Successfully complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) in your subject of choice. TEA has updated its educator standards to now require all EPPs to teach and train Texas teacher certification candidates to identify children with dyslexia and how to instruct them. Now all teachers in all subject matters are trained to handle this special need.
</li><li><b>Exam</b>: Pass the TExES exam in your subject area. The TEA's website lists the certification standards that will be assessed through every TExES exam. The State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) has created and approved framework for this exam. The framework that will be included for each subject certification tested with a TExES exam can be found on the TEA's website as well. Every subject certification exam includes a section to test a candidate's competency in teaching dyslexic children. This is found in the section that will assess competency for <i>All Learners</i>.
</li><li><b>Apply</b>: Apply to the state of Texas to obtain a teaching certification. This process confirms that you have met all the requirements set by the TEA.
</li><li><b>Fingerprint</b>: Get your fingerprints taken. The TEA and the SBEC investigate a candidate's criminal background history through the fingerprinting process. This is the final step in getting a Texas teaching certification.
</li></ul><h3 id="section---SpecializedCertification"> Specialized Certification</h3><p>Because dyslexia is a learning disability that affects a person's reading abilities, a specialized certificate will focus on teaching an educator about reading and learning difficulties. A reading specialist certification provides teachers with the qualifications to meet this special need. To qualify for a reading specialist certification the candidate must have a master's degree and two years of classroom teaching experience at an accredited school. This specialized certification will be in addition to the Texas teaching certification that the candidate must already hold. The TEA provides a list of EPPs that prepare candidates for the reading specialist examination. The exam that is taken for this certification is the TExES Reading Specialist (151) exam and requires a passing score of 240. The cost of the certification exam is $116.
</p><p>To find more information on EPPs and exam dates, visit the TEA's website.</p>