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Eccles Scholarship Application
For Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Certification Courses

WRS Practicum Criteria Letter (to Administrators) [PDF format]

Application

January 19, 2024

Dear Administrator:

Reading difficulties can be resolved if effective intervention is provided early in a child's school career. However, students with severe reading difficulties (i.e., dyslexia) require specialized, intensive intervention from a highly trained professional. Unfortunately, few educators in Utah have the necessary expertise to provide these services and lack the knowledge to provide intensive intervention in a virtual format.

In response, the University of Utah Reading Clinic (UURC) -- with much-appreciated donations from the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Crawford Family Foundation -- has established a scholarship fund for educators to receive professional development in this much-needed area

The scholarships are specifically designed to aid practicing educator's completion of Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Level I Certification -- a highly effective intervention for students with severe reading difficulties. The UURC is in its twenty-third year of providing this intensive professional development experience and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from educators, parents, and students.

WRS Level I Certification benefits teachers across the grade levels, but we want to highlight the following:

  • Support to those teachers who have completed or are participating in LETRS® training. WRS Level I Certification clearly addresses the HOW of Year 1 and Year 2 LETRS® training with strong instructional routines that can be adapted to whole class, small group, and individual students.

  • The WRS Level I Certification & University of Utah graduate course fulfill requirements for the USBE Secondary Literacy Intervention Endorsement. For more information on the Secondary Literacy Intervention Endorsement go to: Secondary Literacy Interventionist Template Endorsement Options.docx - Google Docs.

  • In Fall 2023, the Utah State Board of Education approved the Wilson Reading System® (4th edition) as a SoR intervention for grades 2-12 (List).

Listed is a description of practicum requirements and an application for our 2024-2025 WRS Level I Certification with year-long practicum.
This year we have three options available for the practicum delivery:
 
*Option 1: The WRS Level I certification practicum with observations held in person at our Murray, Utah site.*
Option 2: The WRS Level I certification web-based practicum with trainings and observations held virtually.
*Option 3: The WRS Level I certification site-based practicum (six or more educators from a school or district, observations may be conducted within your district).

*The COVID virus has required us to be flexible with our trainings and observations. If the trainer feels it is necessary, we will shift to remote trainings and observations on a case-by-case basis.

We encourage all interested practicing educators to examine the Wilson® information carefully and consider making an application. We also encourage you to make copies of this letter and share it with other potential applicants.

WRS Level I Certification and UURC Practicum Requirements

  • Attend a WRS Introductory Course (3 days) at our Murray location
    (Dates: September 4, 5, 6, 2024)
    Course fee is $395 (includes lunch all 3 days)
  • WRS Level I practicum fee is an additional $370 (includes 9 University of Utah credits).
    Course fee due when participant accepts the scholarship offer.
  • Tutor 1 student a minimum of two times per week and 65+ lessons (1 hour/lesson)
  • Conduct baseline, progress monitoring, and post assessments
  • Attend at least 4 out of 5 WRS Level I implementation meetings (held after school hours)
  • Complete 5 tutoring observations with Wilson® Credentialed Trainer (most often scheduled during school hours)
  • Attend at least 3 out of 4 UURC coaching sessions (held during the school day)
  • Complete WRS Intensive Intervention for the Non-Responsive Reader (Steps 1-6) Online Course

It is important to note that this practicum is extremely time-intensive (at least a school year in length) and the requirements described above are mandatory. Trainings, observations, and coaching sessions will be held primarily during the school day. This may necessitate arrangements for substitutes, as well as transportation to and from observations.

When taken from Wilson Language Training® directly the total cost of this training exceeds $3,000 per individual. However, educators who receive a scholarship from the UURC will be responsible for the following approximate costs:

  • WRS Introductory Course (3 days) fee ($395) plus the WRS Level I Certification Course fee ($370) (prices subject to change).
  • personal tutoring supplies (approximately $175).
  • transportation of self (and student, if applicable) to and from UURC.
  • web-based only - flexible document camera. Examples include:
  • WRS Introductory Set (Steps 1-6), 4th Edition, which includes (Instructor Manual Steps 1-6, Student Readers Steps 1-6, Rules Notebook, Student Notebook, Dictation Book, Sampling of Steps 1-6 Word Cards, High Frequency Words, Word Element & Syllable Cards, Magnetic Journal & Magnetic Tiles, Letter-Sound Cards, WADE Assessment, End of Step Assessment Materials), one set per educator
    *Visit Wilson Language Training®'s online store at https://store.wilsonlanguage.com for current item prices. For ordering assistance contact WLT® Customer Support at 800.899.8454. Item#: W4INTROSET, ISBN# 978-1-56778-648-4.)
  • Access to the Word Identification and Spelling Test ("WIST"), available from Wilson Language Training® or Pro-Ed. Although copies of the WIST are available for loan from the UURC, we recommend purchasing 1 kit for every 5 participating educators from the same school or district or if you are a significant driving distance from the Reading Clinic.

Given the challenging nature of this practicum, applicants are encouraged to "yoke/partner" their applications in pairs. Scholarship selection priority will be given to highly qualified pairs of practicing educators working in the same school or district.

Applications are due at the UURC no later than March 29, 2024. We will notify applicants regarding their status no later than April 19, 2024.Email completed applications to michele.blake@utah.edu, or bring/mail to:

WRS Scholarship 2024-2025
UURC
5242 South College Drive (480 West), Suite 100
Murray, UT   84123

Attending the WRS Introductory Course does not certify educators in WRS but it does provide valuable training and fills a prerequisite for the WRS Level I year-long practicum. The registration fee for all attendees is $395, (Please inform UURC of any dietary restrictions). Educators should register for this course here.

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship or the practicum options, please contact Ms. Michele Blake at 801-661-4892, michele.blake@utah.edu,Ms. Grace Craig at 801-265-3951, grace.craig@utah.edu, orMs. Holly Dean at 801-265-3951, holly.dean@utah.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kelly Patrick, Director
University of Utah Reading Clinic

 

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