Ed.S. in Reading: Earn Your Illinois Reading Specialist Endorsement Online

Already hold a master's? NLU's CAEP-accredited Ed.S. in Reading prepares licensed Illinois educators to earn the Reading Specialist endorsement and lead literacy change across a school or district, online and on your schedule.

  • CAEP-Accredited Reading Program
  • Illinois Reading Specialist Endorsement
  • Post-Master's Specialist Degree
  • Low Residency or Fully Virtual

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Why Choose NLU for the Ed.S. in Reading?

Reading Specialist
Illinois endorsement (Content Test 221)

Qualify to coach teachers, lead programs, and drive district literacy change.

30 SH
Post-master's specialist degree

Build on the master's you already have, no starting over.

$74,720
Median salary, instructional coordinators (BLS, May 2024)

Literacy coaches and coordinators are a common path for specialists.

Low Residency or Virtual
Flexible delivery for working educators

No relocation, designed around a full-time teaching schedule.

Coach and Lead
Leadership and research coursework built in

Literacy leadership and a reading research seminar prepare you to lead, not just teach.

Get Started Today

Program at a Glance

How long?
30 SH
Post-master's specialist degree
How much?
$700/SH
About $21,000 total
What endorsement?
Reading Specialist
Illinois endorsement (Test 221)
What salary?
$74,720
Median, instructional coordinators (BLS, May 2024)

What You'll Learn

  • Administer and interpret a broad range of literacy assessments
  • Plan and deliver culturally responsive literacy interventions
  • Coach teachers and lead professional development in literacy
  • Apply current reading research to school and district practice
  • Complete elementary and secondary literacy practica
  • Qualify for the Illinois Reading Specialist endorsement

Full Course List

Foundations
How early reading develops and how to teach it effectively.
Comprehension
Building comprehension and literacy across content areas, K to 12.
Assessment
Administering and interpreting a broad range of literacy assessments.
Intervention
Planning and delivering individualized, evidence-based reading interventions.
Leadership
Coaching teachers and leading professional development in literacy.
Writing
Evidence-based methods for teaching writing across the grades.
Research
Applying current literacy research to school and district practice.
Clinical Practice
Supervised literacy intervention practica at both elementary and secondary levels.

Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • A master's degree from an accredited institution
  • A current Illinois PEL with a teaching field endorsement
  • Two years of teaching experience across varied grade levels
  • Online application at nl.edu with official transcripts
  • An advisor confirms your track and endorsement pathway
Request Info
From Teacher to Literacy Leader

The Specialist track prepares you to coach colleagues, lead professional development, and drive literacy change across a school or district, not just your own classroom.

Builds on the Master's You Have

A post-master's specialist degree in 30 hours that earns the Illinois Reading Specialist endorsement and pays on the district salary schedule.

CAEP-Accredited Literacy Program

A rigorous, research-based program from a college with Illinois educator preparation since 1886, taught by active literacy practitioners.

Where Will Your Ed.S. Take You?

$74,720
Median salary, instructional coordinators (BLS, May 2024)
Reading Specialist
Literacy Coach
Reading Coordinator
Literacy Interventionist
Curriculum Developer (Literacy)
Instructional Coordinator

Reading Specialist graduates move into literacy coaching, reading coordinator, and instructional leadership roles across PK to 12 schools and districts, the people who shape how an entire building or system teaches reading.

Instructional coordinators, a common destination for literacy leaders, earn a median salary of $74,720 (BLS, May 2024). The Illinois Reading Specialist endorsement is the credential that opens those coaching and coordinator roles, and the Ed.S. signals the advanced expertise districts look for.

Get Started Now

How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Request Information

    Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment advisor will reach out within one business day to confirm your eligibility.

  2. Confirm Your Track With an Advisor

    Your advisor confirms the Reading Specialist Ed.S. fits your goals and verifies your PEL and teaching experience.

  3. Apply and Start Classes

    Submit your application at nl.edu with official transcripts. Next start: September 21, 2026. Your advisor maps your course sequence and practicum.

Get Started

Take the First Step

No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to map your path to the Illinois Reading Specialist endorsement.

Take the First Step
  • CAEP-Accredited Reading Program
  • Illinois Reading Specialist Endorsement
  • Post-Master's Specialist Degree
  • Low Residency or Fully Virtual

*Salary data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators (SOC 25-9031), May 2024.

**Endorsement and curriculum: SmartCatalog, National Louis University, Reading Ed.S. Reading Specialist Option (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).

***Tuition: National Louis University NCE M.Ed./Ed.S. rate, $700 per semester hour (2025-2026).