Reading Specialist Eligibility Application 2026-2027
School District of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA
2d
About The Position
The Reading Specialist role requires particular expertise in the area of reading instruction. The reading specialist will support teachers and students in meeting the individual needs of students in the area of reading. It is expected that the specialist will work collaboratively with District leadership, Principals and Teachers to identify and implement effective strategies for student achievement. They will have further responsibility of understanding and assisting in implementing current methodologies, effective instructional strategies, and facilitating reading related professional development.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Reading for an accredited college or university
- Five (5) years of full-time, paid, professional appointed classroom or site-based teaching experience in a specific content area
- Experience supporting teachers and students in improving reading achievement
- Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Reading Specialist PK-12 certificate; OR
- Presentation of an original, signed letter from the Certification Officer of an accredited college or university verifying current enrollment in an approved certification program in order to be eligible for an Emergency Permit
- Demonstrated knowledge of Five (5) essential components of literacy instruction
- Demonstrated knowledge of Effective reading strategies
- Demonstrated ability to Plan and administer effective district-wide and school-specific professional development
- Demonstrated ability to Review students’ reading data to develop individualized remediation plans
- Demonstrated ability to Support teachers in understanding effective reading instruction
- Demonstrated ability to Establish and maintain working relationships
Responsibilities
- Implement and monitor a plan for reading support
- Provide small group (pull-out) reading instruction before, during, and/or after school to students in need of remediation
- Provide push-in reading intervention
- Provide one-on-one coaching for teachers in the area of reading
- Facilitate small group/grade group professional development
- Model, co-plan, co-deliver reading instruction
- Assist classroom teachers by providing them with additional strategies for those students who have been identified for additional instruction
- Work with the classroom teacher to monitor student progress
