Lynchburg Reporter

The University of Lynchburg is offering a tuition discount of 40% on two of its Master of Education programs: the MEd in Reading and the MEd in Special Education. The deadline to apply for the Fall 2022 semester is July 31, but interested teachers can apply anytime for upcoming semesters.

The discount for the two online programs lowers tuition for eligible Virginia teachers from $555 to just $333 per credit hour.

The move comes as school districts around the country are struggling to retain qualified teachers.

Dr. Emma Savage-Davis, dean of the College of Education, Leadership Studies, and Counseling at Lynchburg, says Lynchburg’s MEd in Reading and MEd in Special Education programs address specific needs in the school system.

“Nationwide, we are experiencing an increase in students who have difficulties learning to read or who are at risk for reading difficulties due to many factors, including the pandemic,” Savage-Davis said.

“The good news is that research tells us that when placed into schools with effective principals and well-supported teachers who are implementing evidence-based assessments and instruction, nearly all students can become skilled readers and writers.

“Through the University of Lynchburg’s MEd in Reading program, applicants will learn the research and theories that allow them to implement evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading to support students in becoming skilled readers and writers.”

As for special education, it’s among the most severe critical teaching shortage areas statewide and across the country, according to the Virginia Department of Education. In Virginia, “critical shortage” is defined in two ways: shortages by subject matter as designated from the top ten academic disciplines identified in an annual survey of school divisions, or a school personnel vacancy for which a school division receives three or fewer qualified candidates for a position.

Given the shortage of teachers in special education, “teachers with such qualifications are highly marketable and sought after by district and school administrators,” Savage-Davis said. Lynchburg’s MEd in Special Education, she added, provides teachers with the skills necessary to fill those vacancies and be successful.

“At the University of Lynchburg, we are providing current Virginia teachers an opportunity to add on to their license and to develop skills that will increase their success in the classroom.”

To be eligible for the discount on the MEd in Special Education or the MEd in Reading, applicants must be in-service Virginia teachers who already have a teaching license and want to pursue one of the two degrees, or non-degree seeking students taking special education or reading courses for professional development.

To qualify each semester, teachers must submit a completed In-Service Teacher Voucher form and a recommendation by their principal, as well as a copy of their active teaching license.

The MEd in Reading is offered 100% online and requires 36 credit hours. It features two emphases — Reading Instruction and Reading Specialist. See the curriculum at a glance for a comparison of the two emphases.

The program focuses on diagnosis, assessment, and remediation of reading problems, explicit reading and literature instruction, writing technology, and research methodology.

The MEd in Special Education is a 33-credit-hour program. While this program is also entirely online, student-teaching is only available within 90 miles of Lynchburg.

There are three emphases: Early Childhood Special Education, Special Education – Adapted Curriculum (this emphasis focuses on students with significant disabilities), and Special Education – General Curriculum. The latter focuses on students with learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and intellectual disabilities.

For more information about the MEd in Special Education, contact Dr. Andrew Bruce, program director and associate professor of special education, at 434.544.8607 or bruce.aa@lynchburg.edu. Learn how to apply on the MEd in Special Education website.

For more information about the MEd in Reading, contact Dr. Stefanie Copp, program director and assistant professor of language and literacy education, at 434.544.8508 or copp_s@lynchburg.edu. Learn how to apply on the MEd in Reading website. 

For questions about admission and the tuition discount, contact  Matt Johnston, director of graduate enrollment, at 434.544.8841 or johnston_m1@lynchburg.edu.

Original source can be found here.