This NCATE and Florida Department of Education approved specialization is designed to develop specialists in teaching reading, diagnosing reading difficulties, and coordinating and supervising programs in reading (K-12 and adult programs). Students completing the specialization are eligible for Florida graduate certification in reading. Reading is a critical shortage area and teacher education students may be eligible for the Critical Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program and/or the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program. Based on the International Reading Association’s Standards for Reading Professionals, this program integrates course work and clinical experiences to prepare graduates in the following areas: A. Foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction, B. Instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support reading and writing instruction, C. Assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction, D. Integration of foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments.