Assets-Based, Research-Grounded, Practice-Aligned
***********New Cohort Beginning September 2025************
Literacy is a Human Right
“The ability to read, write, and think critically is the foundation for equity in any society.”
— Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
UVEI’s vision for literacy is that every student has access to high-quality, inclusive instruction. We prepare educators with the knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practices to develop confident, proficient readers and writers. As a community of literacy leaders, we foster collective efficacy and champion both structured and critical literacies—supporting students in building strong foundational skills and engaging critically with the world through text.
UVEI Literacy Educators Program
Our two-year Literacy Educators Program prepares educators and school leaders to advance literacy outcomes for all students, PreK through Grade 12. Candidates earn 9 graduate credits per year and, upon completion, are eligible for the New Hampshire Reading & Writing Specialist Endorsement (ED 507.12) and/or the Vermont Specialized Literacy Professional Endorsement (#79). Participants also complete Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, 3rd Edition, Volumes 1 and 2) certification—an International Dyslexia Association–approved training.
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Deeper Learning
UVEI enacts this vision by building capacity in interdependent areas: Reading Science; Self Reflection; Agency and Belonging; and Sustainable Systems Change. Together, these lenses create a coherent and comprehensive approach to literacy instruction and leadership — ensuring every student is taught effectively, supported appropriately, and empowered to thrive as a reader, writer, thinker, and learner.
Program Structure
Our Literacy Educators Program bridges research and practice through ongoing inquiry cycles that support educators in applying new learning, reflecting on impact, and improving over time. Participants engage in regular seminars, cohort-based collaboration, and personalized one-on-one coaching, with ongoing feedback and real-time problem-solving. The relationships built with faculty, peers, and mentors are among the most powerful drivers of professional growth.
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“The process of building knowledge, then going out to do the work, then reflecting on that effort, followed by trying again and reflecting again. The strength of this program lies in its cycle. That is where the best learning takes place.”
— Literacy Program Candidate, 2023–2025