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Master Reading Teacher

About the Texas Master Reading Teacher (MRT) Program

In 1999, the 75th Texas Legislature established the $36 million Master Reading Teacher (MRT) Program to support advanced training for reading educators and offer additional support in reading for all classroom teachers. The Master Reading Teacher Certificate is being implemented as part of the Texas Reading Initiative to ensure that all Texas students are reading on grade level by the end of the third grade and that their reading knowledge and skills grow throughout their public school careers.

The goals of the Master Reading Teacher Program are to provide proficient teachers with the tools to:

• enhance their expertise in the content and pedagogy of reading; and
• guide fellow teachers in improving their reading instruction.

A Master Reading Teacher may be eligible for a state stipend if serving as a MRT on a designated “high-need” campus. Details about the MRT Program can be found on the web site for the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)

For more information, contact:

Dr. Rebecca Miller, rmiller@tarleton.edu, 254-968-9903

Application Process

1. Apply for admission to Tarleton’s MRT Program by completing and returning the application form. The application deadline is March 15th. Along with the application, provide the following:
   • Official undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts not currently on file at TSU,
   • a photocopy of current Texas teacher certificate and Professional Reading Specialist certificate (if applicable), and
   • a photocopy of an official service record showing three years of employment as a classroom teacher.
2. Applicants will be notified by April 1 of results of the initial screening for the Tarleton MRT Program.
3. Upon notification of successful screening into the Tarleton MRT program, apply for admission to the College of Graduate Studies as a non-degree student. A non-refundable $30 application-processing fee must accompany the application of students who will be attending Tarleton for the first time. For more information about Graduate Admissions call 1-800 OUR GRAD or visit the Graduate Studies website.
4. Register for appropriate graduate course work.

Admission and Program Requirements:

The Master Reading Teacher Certificate may be obtained in two ways:

• Teachers holding a valid Texas professional Reading Specialist Certificate (NOT an Elementary Certificate with a specialization in reading) will need to complete a modified program which includes modules on the topics of Dyslexia, Coaching and Mentoring, and Second Language Learners. Any additional program requirements will be determined on an individual basis following an analysis of the applicant’s strengths.
• Individuals holding a valid teaching certificate with at least three years of teaching experience must complete Tarleton’s MRT preparation program and pass the MRT certification test.

The MRT program requirements follow:

Course Requirements:

Summer I:
RDG 573 Foundations of Reading 3 hours

PSY 590 Special Topics, Psycholinguistics 3 hours (This is an online course that spans both summer sessions.)

Summer II:
RDG 575 Rdg Research & Assmt 3 hours

These courses may be counted toward a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Tarleton State University and toward the Professional Reading Specialist Certificate.

Module Requirements:

Coaching and Mentoring Module
Second Language Learners Module

Program Costs

An individual who holds a Professional Reading Specialist Certificate and is completing a modified program will be assessed the following costs* after the initial screening has been completed:

MRT Program Registration Fee $50.00
MRT Materials Fee $50.00

All other program participants will be required to pay the following program costs*:

College of Graduate Studies Application-Processing Fee $30.00 (non-refundable)
Approximate Total In-State Graduate Tuition and Fees (9 hours) $1950.00
MRT Program Registration Fee $50.00
Approximate Textbook Costs $300.00

*Tuition and fees are established by the Texas legislature and are subject to change. The Master Reading Teacher Exam and Certification fees are set by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).