The Reading Endorsement in Florida is an add-on credential to a valid Florida teaching certificate to denote additional training in reading instruction, consisting of the five courses below.

Reading Endorsement Competencies 

Competency 1: Foundations of Reading Instruction (60 hours)

Competency 2: Application of Evidence-based Instructional Practices (60 hours)

Competency 3: Foundations of Assessment (60 hours)

Competency 4: Foundations and Applications of Differentiated Instruction (60 hours)

Competency 5: Demonstration of Accomplishment (60 hours)

• Teachers who teach summer reading camps for third grade students scoring Level 1 on state standardized assessment of ELA (s. 1008.25, F.S.)

• Teachers instructing retained third grade students (s. 1008.25, F.S.)

• Teachers providing Tier 3 reading intervention must possess a literacy micro-credential or be endorsed or certified in reading (Rule 6A-6.053, F.A.C.)

• Literacy coaches must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and be endorsed or K-12 certified in the area of reading (Rule 6A-6.053, F.A.C.)

• School district personnel and instructional personnel who supervise teacher candidates during internship in grades K-3 or who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program for certification in these coverage areas (s. 1012.585(3)(f), F.S., Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C.):

  • Elementary Education (K-6), Prekindergarten/Primary Education (age 3 through grade 3), Elementary Education (grades 1-6), Primary Education (grades K-3), English (grades 1-6), Middle Grades English (grades 5-9), Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (grades 5-9), English (6-12), Exceptional Student Education (grades K-12) (renewal beginning with a validity date of July 1, 2025), Reading (K-12), Reading (Endorsement), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (grades K-12)

• Candidates entering a teacher preparation program, educator preparation institute, or professional learning certification program for certification in these coverage areas (s. 1012.585(3)(f), F.S., Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C.):

  • Elementary Education (K-6), Prekindergarten/Primary Education (age 3 through grade 3), Elementary Education (grades 1-6), Primary Education (grades K-3), English (grades 1-6), Middle Grades English (grades 5-9), Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (grades 5-9), English (6-12), Exceptional Student Education (grades K-12) (renewal beginning with a validity date of July 1, 2025), Reading (K-12), Reading (Endorsement), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (grades K-12)

Reading Endorsement requirement is different from the Reading-40 requirement for recertification though there is some overlap. Some reading endorsement competencies cover either the Reading-40 requirement or both the Reading-40 and SWD requirement for certification renewal.  

Please contact Dawn Boyd, boydd@lake.k12.fl.us , for information regarding the Reading 40 requirement.

Currently, there are 3 pathways available to Lake County Educators at no-cost*: 

• UF Lastinger Center Literacy Matrix

• Schultz Center Reading Endorsement

• LCS Hybrid Job-Embedded Reading Endorsement. 

More information about each of these pathways can be found on this site.

*Special Note regarding Lake County Charter School Educators--Charters should contact Schultz Center or UF Lastinger directly to register for competencies.Charter schools may participate in the LCS Hybrid Job-Embedded pathway depending on available space, and will be charged in accordance with the Charter School Administrative Fee Schedule approved by the Lake County School Board. All participants must seek administrative approval prior to registering for these courses.  Once courses/competencies are completed, certificates of completion can be submitted to Tersia Conner in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.

Educators who have completed and passed all competency coursework, as required by their Statement of Status of Eligibility, should follow the steps in the Lake County Certification Website for final processing (link may be found below).