Right to Read

Last Updated: 6/2/2023 1:19 PM

5.26.23: RIDE is asking for school districts to report whether or not educators have met Right to Read Act requirements of obtaining either Proficiency or Awareness. (See background section below for more details).  Please help us verify your completion of these requirements by doing the following:

 

For those requiring PROFICIENCY:

  1. If you have been part of a DISTRICT COHORT of (RIFTHP) Reading Reimagined, we have your names. The district will verify with RIDE that you have met the Right to Read Act Requirements. This requirement is separate and apart from the DYSLEXIA Endorsement Requirements (see #3; bottom of page).

If you fall under one of the proficiency categories in #2-5 below, please upload documentation of proof using the form below.  The district will then verify with RIDE that you have met the Right to Read Act Requirements. This requirement is separate and apart from the DYSLEXIA Endorsement Requirements (see #3; bottom of page).

  1. If you have completed one of the other RIDE Approved Pathways to Proficiency, such as LETRS, URI's Graduate certificate in Dyslexia Knowledge and Practice, etc., proof is your certificate of completion.

  2. If you have obtained a MA in reading or a related academic discipline, proof can be transcripts or degree certificate with date awarded or conferred (if this is already on file with HR at Central Office, please indicate this in the form).  

  3. If you have a reading specialist certificate, proof is your certificate with date awarded or conferred (if this is already on file with HR at Central Office, please indicate this in the form).  

  4. If you have passed the RIDE adopted test in scientific reading and structured literacy which meets the requirements, proof is your documentation proving you passed the test.

  5. If there is another reason not listed here why you believe you meet the requirement, please contact us with that information.

 

For those requiring AWARENESS, the BRIDGE-RI courses 1-5 fulfill this requirement (also see #2):

  1. To document your completion of these 5 courses, once you have completed all FIVE courses, proof is the FINAL completion certificate.  Please upload this FINAL certificate of completion, not the individual certificates you get after each section.  More details, an example, and instructions are included on the form.

  2. If you've met one of the requirements for PROFICIENCY as listed above, you can use that instead and upload to the form as needed.

Upload Form

 

Background:

The Rhode Island Right to Read Act was passed in July of 2019, and amended in June 2022.  The law requires educators to exhibit either Proficiency in or Awareness of the knowledge and practices of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy.

Coventry Public Schools' requirements for Science of Reading Proficiency and Awareness PD closely follow the guidelines set forth by RIDE, approved providers/pathways and the RI Right to Read Act.

From RIDE: 

“By the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, all PK-5 classroom educators, K-12 special educators, reading specialists/coaches, ESOL, bilingual and dual language educators must demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and practices of The Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. All remaining educators must exhibit awareness.” (Table 1 & Table 2 on this document; p.6 & 7.)  

Note: Coventry added the Awareness requirement for those positions outlined in green on table 3 (p.7) except physical therapists.

 

Criteria for Meeting Awareness:

 

Criteria for Meeting Proficiency:

(Upon the culmination of this training from a RIDE approved provider, educators will be eligible for the Literacy/Dyslexia Endorsement.)

(Upon the culmination of this training from a RIDE approved provider, educators will be eligible for the Literacy/Dyslexia Endorsement.)

  • The Right to Read Act says:
    Possessing a Master’s degree in  reading or a related academic discipline;
    Possessing a reading specialist and/or consultant certificate;
    Providing proof of completion of a course or training program in scientific reading and structured literacy instruction; or
    Passing a test in scientific reading and structured literacy instruction adopted by the department at no cost to the teacher

  • RIDE’s RTR Act Guidance Document says:
    Per the Right to Read Act, an educator may demonstrate proficiency by completing a RIDE approved professional learning provider course (Upon successful completion of an approved proficiency training, educators will be eligible to apply for a Literacy/Dyslexia Endorsement to be added to their teaching certificate at no cost); or
    Passing the RIDE approved test; or
    Possessing a master’s degree in reading or related academic discipline; or
    Possessing a reading specialist and/or consultant certificate

  • (Upon the culmination of this training from a RIDE approved provider, educators will be eligible for the Literacy/Dyslexia Endorsement.)