Professional Development in the Science of Reading

Guidance document for the Science of Reading Professional Development Requirements under House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly (UPDATED JULY 2024)

UPDATE: Pre-Kindergarten General Education Teachers Now Eligible for Stipend Reimbursement

A recent change in Ohio law now allows pre-kindergarten general education teachers to be eligible for stipend reimbursement for completing the Department’s Science of Reading professional development course.


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Professional Development in the Science of Reading

​Under Section 265.330(A)(2) of House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly, districts and schools shall require all teachers and administrators to complete a course provided by the Department not later than June 30, 2025, except that any teacher or administrator who has previously completed similar training, as determined by the Department, shall not be required to complete the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio’s Professional Development Courses in the Science of Reading 

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has made available multiple professional development courses to meet the requirements in state law. Multiple course pathways, based on educators’ primary role, grade band served, and previously completed trainings, have been designed to fit individual educator needs. Districts and community schools should work with educators and administrators to identify the course pathway that is the best fit for their role.  

If you need additional account support after consulting the linked support documents above, please contact OH|ID Profile Help at Profile.Help@education.ohio.gov for OH|ID assistance. If you are in the LMS application and need additional support, please contact LMS Support at LMSSupport@education.ohio.gov.

Five pathways are now available on the Department’s Learning Management System:  

  • Pathway A: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading, Kindergarten-Grade 5 Course
  • Pathway B: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Kindergarten-Grade 5 (Abbreviated) 
  • Pathway C: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading, Grades 6-12 Course 
  • Pathway D: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Grades 6-12 (Abbreviated) 
  • Pathway E: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Grades 6-12 Content Areas 
  • Pathway F: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Administrators K-12 

NOTE: 
Educators should only take abbreviated pathways (Pathway B and Pathway D) if they have completed the 18-hour Introduction to Dyslexia Course, Grades K-3, the Introduction to Dyslexia Course, Grades 4-12, or 18 hours of training provided by instructors of Structured Literacy Certification programs. Courses and trainings other than these do not qualify educators for the abbreviated pathways.  

The following course pathway is available through Cox Campus & The Rollins Center for Language and Literacy: 

The Department’s K-12 Introduction to the Science of Reading courses (Pathways A-E) have been designed to include optional face-to-face facilitated meetings with a trained facilitator, in addition to the online course content. These optional facilitated meetings are recommended to support implementation of instructional practices and enhance educator learning. To access a trained facilitator of the Department’s K-12 Introduction to the Science of Reading courses, contact your local State Support Team or Educational Service Center.

Similar Trainings to Meet the Requirements

The Department has determined the following professional development and/or training courses are similar trainings to the Department's professional development courses in the science of reading and evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction. As such, any teacher or administrator who has previously completed one of the following courses or trainings is considered to have satisfied the requirement to complete a professional development course provided by the Department for purposes of Section 265.330(A)(2) of H.B. 33. Please note that certain courses or trainings have been determined to be similar training only for certain roles, content areas, or grade levels.

PreK-Grade 12

Pre-Kindergarten Only

The following trainings represent comprehensive trainings that include all components of emergent literacy and are similar trainings for the purpose of meeting the professional development requirement for prekindergarten general education teachers, intervention specialists, English learner teachers, reading specialists and instructional coaches.

  • Keys to Emergent Literacy (Keys to Literacy)
  • LETRS Early Childhood (Lexia Learning)

Grades 6-12 Content Area Teachers Only 

The following trainings are similar trainings for the purpose of meeting the professional development requirement for teachers of subject areas other than English language arts in grades 6-12 only.

  • Keys to Adolescent Literacy (Keys to Literacy)
  • Key Comprehension Routine (Keys to Literacy)
  • Key Vocabulary Routine (Keys to Literacy)
  • Keys to Content Writing (Keys to Literacy)

Administrators Only 

The following trainings are similar trainings for the purpose of meeting the professional development requirement for administrators only.
  • LETRS for Administrators (Lexia Learning)
  • Pathways to Literacy Leadership (AIM Institute for Learning and Research)

Stipends for Teachers (Updated July 29, 2024)

Under state law, stipends are available for the following:
  • $1,200 for each of the following:
    • A teacher of grades pre-kindergarten through five;
    • An English language arts teacher of grades six through twelve;
    • An intervention specialist, English learner teacher, reading specialist, or instructional coach who serves any of grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.
  • $400 for each teacher who teaches a subject area other than English language arts in grades six through twelve.

Stipends are available ONLY for the completion of all of the professional development courses/hours in a specified pathway developed by the Department to meet the requirements under state law.

Science of Reading Professional Development Pathway Stipend Reimbursement Eligibility Amount
A $1200
B $1200
C $1200
D $1200
E $400
F $0
G $1200

Stipend Reimbursement

Information about the stipend reimbursement process is available in the Science of Reading Professional Development guidance document (UPDATED July 2024). Instructions to access the stipend reimbursement portal are available in this document.

Last Modified: 12/26/2024 8:56:22 AM