Leaders from Elon and from Lenoir-Rhyne University are heading an effort by North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities to implement coursework related to the science of reading.
A recent article by the education media outlet EdNC highlighted the efforts by leaders in Elon’s Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education to develop coursework for teacher candidates in the science of reading.
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The effort follows a new reading law in the state that mandates the coursework for those studying to become teachers. Leading the effort for the state’s private colleges and universities is the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities organization, which has tapped leaders at Elon University and Lenoir-Rhyne University to guide the efforts.
“NCICU greatly values and is fortunate to have outstanding leadership in the area of science of reading at both Lenoir-Rhyne and Elon universities, and the state overall is fortunate to benefit from the early adoption of this model by these institutions,” said NCICU President Hope Williams, according to EdNC. “We are fortunate to have two such great leaders in this area to lead the task force for our 31 educator preparation programs and who have already been assisting the UNC Task Force.”
Chairing the science of reading task force will be Mary Knight-McKenna, professor of education and director of Elon’s Master of Education program, and Monica Campbell, professor and chair of Lenoir-Rhyne’s College of Education.
EdNC reporter Rupen Fofaria notes that a number of institutions within the UNC system are following the efforts of the task force.