A Clemson University College of Education graduate program has received national recognition with distinction from an international organization. The International Literacy Association (ILA) recently awarded the College’s Master of Education in Literacy program the National Recognition with Distinction for Preparation of Literacy Professionals.
It is the highest honor awarded by the organization, given only to a select number of programs with demonstrated excellence in literacy educator preparation. Emily Howell, associate professor of literacy, said the recognition is indicative of a quality program created by dedicated faculty and staff that has found an audience with educators across settings in South Carolina and beyond.
“We have worked hard to create a thoughtful, rigorous series of courses designed to prepare reading specialists to work with a wide range of learners across any school setting,” Howell said. “The review for this distinction comes from current and former students, so we are heartened to know that they recognize and appreciate the program.”
Institutions must first achieve national recognition before undergoing the specialized evaluation, which includes a virtual site visit. Programs seeking the distinction must demonstrate alignment with ILA’s Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals and provide evidence of exceptional performance across multiple areas of literacy educator preparation.
Students in the program praised the faculty’s responsiveness and the seamless inclusion of “open houses” and zoom sessions offered alongside the asynchronous courses. Faculty were also praised for infusing content and instructional practices into the curriculum that represent a comprehensive perspective on literacy.
“We pride ourselves on having engaged, energetic faculty and staff that truly engage with graduate students seeking to make a positive impact on student literacy skills,” Howell said. “This distinction reinforces our commitment to excellence and our goal of remaining a leader in literacy research and educator preparation.”
Learn more about ILA National Recognition at literacyworldwide.org/natrec.
The International Literacy Association (ILA) is a professional membership organization of literacy educators, researchers, and experts spanning 128 countries. For 70 years, ILA has set the standard for how literacy is defined, taught, and evaluated, connecting research and practice to improve the quality of literacy learning across the globe. Through its Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, ILA provides an evidence-based benchmark for the development and evaluation of literacy professional preparation programs. ILA collaborates with partners across the world to develop, gather, and disseminate high-quality resources, which include three peer-reviewed and edited journals—The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, and Reading Research Quarterly. Learn more at literacyworldwide.org.
