Iowa Reading K-8 Endorsement

The Reading K-8 endorsement is one of the most popular and marketable Iowa endorsements for teachers. By taking the UNI courses that meet the endorsement requirements, teachers will learn how to assess students’ reading and then design and implement instruction for them in ways that will help them become skilled and successful readers.

This program is designed for practicing teachers in the field as a series of graduate courses offered during the spring and summer semesters. Typically, an elementary teacher has completed 9 hours of the 24-hour endorsement through their undergraduate program of study, and needs to take 15 hours more.

The sequence of courses is designed to help participants learn how to:

  • assess and evaluate reading difficulties
  • connect language development issues with the evaluation of literacy and successful instructional planning
  • effectively select and incorporate children’s or adolescent’s literature
  • design instruction that will best meet the specific needs of students experiencing difficulties in reading and writing

For teachers who hold the Iowa teaching licensure for K-8, the courses in our program will qualify you for the Reading K-8 endorsement in nearly all cases. 

Course delivery

Courses in this program are offered via interactive video conferencing methods (including the Iowa Communications Network). Some courses and coursework are offered online using eLearning, a Blackboard learning management system requiring Internet access and a web browser. 

While most students encounter very few technical difficulties with our online courses, our team of support specialists is available to assist you as needed.

Interested in the 5-12 reading endorsement?

For 5-12 regular classroom teachers, these courses will fulfill a portion of the licensure requirements. LITED 6238, LITED 6247 and LITED 6292 are required. You may also take the LITED 6245 and LITED 6240 in lieu of courses from the English program. (Additional courses are required.)

Review Reading 5-12 Endorsement requirements

Anyone interested in the Reading 5-12 endorsement should ask his/her undergraduate institution to analyze transcripts to verify the courses needed to complete the 5-12 endorsement.