Education

Master of Arts in Teaching - Dyslexia Specialist

With the retirement of Dr. Lynne Fitzhugh, director of the MAT Dyslexia Specialist Program at Colorado College, the Education Department at CC has decided to pause admission into the program for one year. We will not be accepting applications for the summer 2025 start date.
 
Dr. Fitzhugh's leadership and passion for the essential field of dyslexia therapy and literacy intervention has been invaluable and we want to honor the integrity of her work. We are taking this one year pause to be thoughtful and deliberate about the future of the program. Our goal is to strategically support individuals interested in dyslexia therapy and current K12 educators in reading and literacy intervention. Please reach out to Debra Yazulla Mortenson, Director of Teacher Educator Programs with any questions. We are excited to continue this work.

The Master of Arts in Teaching - Dyslexia Specialist degree is a graduate program administered by the Colorado College. This intensive two-year training program is for individuals seeking to learn the most effective, research-based strategies of reading instruction, including instruction for students with dyslexia and related disorders. 

Watch the Fall 2024 MAT Dyslexia Specialist Information Session from Oct. 10. 

Watch this video for an overview of the Colorado College Dyslexia Specialist MAT program

MAT Dyslexia Specialist Program Brochure

Scheduling that works for educators

  • Academic courses for this low residency program run in-person for three to four weeks in July during both summers
  • During the academic year, candidates complete practicum and attend two to three hybrid Saturday seminars per semester

Certifications & Endorsements

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Completion of this program may lead to national professional certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) or Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP) by the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).

ALTA video on dyslexia

What does a CALT Add to Your Dyslexia Team?

Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) National Certification

  • Certified Academic Language Therapist (upon completion of all requirements after Year 2 and passing the Academic Language Therapy Association Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education at the Therapy level)
  • Certified Academic Language Practitioner (upon completion of all requirements after Year 1 and passing the Academic Language Therapy Association Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education at the Practitioner level)

Colorado Department of Education Endorsements

  • Reading Specialist Endorsement (after second year and completion of all requirements)

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Dyslexia Specialist Candidates will gain an understanding of:

  • Structures of written English and the science of reading
  • Instructional strategies and methods (multisensory, systematic, cumulative, direct, diagnostic)
  • Progress monitoring for accuracy and fluency, and
  • Dyslexia, related written-language disorders, and identification of specific learning differences 

Related Links:

Questions or Concerns Regarding Admission? Please contact Debra Yazulla Mortenson, Director of Teacher Education Programs at 719-389-6472 or dmortenson@coloradocollege.edu.

Report an issue - Last updated: 12/20/2024