Clarion University was one of nine universities to become accredited by the International Dyslexia Association and its affiliate the Center for Effective Reading Instruction. The IDA announced new accreditations last spring, and Clarion’s master’s program for special education with a reading concentration was on that list.
For the last year and a half, professors in the education department worked to create a program that would fit the Act 69 pilot legislation. This legislation targeted the reading methodology of dyslexic children.
To become accredited, universities must meet the standards outlined in IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading. Standards include phonological processing, written expression and more.
"We developed a whole five-year program to support our graduate program," said Dr. Richard Sabousky, department chair for special education and disability policy studies. "We had to alter courses to fit the different accreditation with the new legislation."
After applying for accreditation, the department had to submit a matrix containing all of its courses to the IDA. After the paper review, representatives visited Clarion to observe field experience students in their classrooms and talk to their cooperating teachers.
Clarion University is one of the three schools in Pennsylvania that have an empirically based methodology. "When you have to be assessed by an outside entity, it's difficult, as they make sure everything is right for the proper quality," Sabousky said.
"Public schools are now being trained in what we are teaching our students in terms of how to provide the best assistance for reading and written expression," Sabousky said.
"The accreditation process for the International Dyslexia Association is one of the most rigorous procedures I have seen, said Dr. Alan Arroyo, interim director of the School of Education. "The IDA wants to be sure that our graduates from the special education programs are skilled at delivering scientifically based and proven reading instruction. Getting their seal of approval is a real honor."