In the heart of North Texas, ESC Region 11 is quietly transforming the future for students with dyslexia through an intensive and highly respected professional learning opportunity. The Dyslexia Therapist Training, now beginning its fourth cohort, equips educators with the tools, training, and credentials needed to provide research-based, impactful intervention for students who need it most.

Launched in June 2022, the program is designed with a clear mission – to help regional local education agencies (LEAs) build internal capacity by training their staff members to become Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs). These specialists not only deliver high-quality, structured literacy instruction to students with dyslexia but also serve as campus and district-level resources on dyslexia-related needs.

The program's core is delivered through Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, a curriculum developed by the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas. When implemented with fidelity, this intervention has resulted in significant growth across all areas of reading, particularly in reading comprehension and word reading skills. And perhaps most importantly, these gains are maintained over time.

“This is more than just training,” said Beth Hewett, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI, who leads the program alongside Marci Harkins, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI. “It’s a pathway to making a measurable difference in students’ lives. We are empowering educators with the skills to deliver highly specialized instruction to students who have historically struggled the most.”

The program is rigorous and rewarding. Participants must complete 200 hours of instructional training and 700 hours of practicum teaching over the course of two years. Graduates with a master’s degree are eligible to sit for the National Registration Exam, administered by the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA), and upon passing, may apply to become a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, a credential recognized by the State of Texas.

Since its inception, the program has trained 41 individuals from 14 different LEAs, representing both small rural districts and larger urban districts. The inaugural cohort proudly graduated in June 2024, and the momentum continues with Cohort 4 set to begin in July 2025.

What sets ESC Region 11’s program apart is the depth and quality of instruction and its collaborative approach. The program maintains a strong partnership with Scottish Rite for Children and draws on in-house expertise from ESC Region 11’s own evaluation staff to provide sessions on dyslexia identification. This structure ensures that participants walk away with a comprehensive understanding of the science and practice of dyslexia intervention.

“We’ve created something that is both accessible and exceptional,” said Harkins. “Our educators leave with advanced skills and the confidence to implement effective intervention for students with dyslexia in their districts immediately.”

Cohort 4 will begin its first-year training from July 7-24, 2025, with additional seminar dates during the 2025-26 school year. Second-year training will follow in June 2026, continuing into the 2026-27 academic year.

The program is open to individuals with a college degree and a passion for supporting students with dyslexia. With high demand for dyslexia specialists across the state, ESC Region 11’s Dyslexia Therapist Training is not only a career-enhancing opportunity for educators but a life-changing one for students.

For more information or to express interest in joining Cohort 4, contact centralregistration@esc11.net or call 817-740-3600.