Morgan State University Makes History as the First HBCU to Achieve Accreditation from the International Dyslexia Association

Morgan’s Teacher Preparation Program Earns Accreditation for Equipping Future Educators with Essential Skills to Support Students with Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties

Baltimore — Morgan State University has become the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to have its undergraduate teacher preparation program, the BS in Elementary Education, accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).  Morgan’s Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development, which offers the BS in Elementary Education, is accredited by the Council of Associations for Educator Preparation Programs (CAEP).  This recent accreditation by the IDA affirms that, in addition to its CAEP accreditation, Morgan’s undergraduate Elementary Education program meets IDA’s rigorous standards for effectively preparing educators to support structured literacy. This accreditation recognizes the department’s curriculum for equipping its teacher candidates with the skills to prevent reading failure and provide effective interventions for students with dyslexia and related reading challenges. Only a select group of university programs is accredited by IDA.  

“This achievement elevates the University’s national standing in teacher education and positions Morgan as a leader in the implementation of research-based educational practices,” said Glenda Prime, Ph.D., dean of Morgan’s School of Education and Urban Studies. “As we look to the future, the School of Education and Urban Studies will continue to ensure that all our programs meet the highest standards of excellence in the preparation of future educators and researchers, who are equipped to serve the needs of diverse communities”.

The IDA is dedicated to advocating for, and providing resources and services to teaching professionals, advocates, individuals, and families affected by dyslexia and other related learning differences. To enhance clarity and promote best practices in teaching literacy, IDA has established Knowledge and Practice Standards (KPS) that all educators should meet to ensure that their students learn to read proficiently. To attain accreditation, programs must demonstrate and document their alignment with these KPS standards.

These standards are based on scientific research and the results of rigorous development, incorporating input from various stakeholders, such as researchers, educators, higher education faculty, clinical specialists, parents, and advocates. The standards address foundational concepts derived from interdisciplinary research on reading development and reading difficulties. The standards ensure that reading programs encompass knowledge of diverse reading profiles, including dyslexia, and cover approaches to the assessment of reading proficiency. Additionally, they emphasize structured literacy teaching, providing detailed guidance on effective instruction in key areas: phonological sensitivity and phoneme awareness, phonics and word recognition, reading fluency, vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and written expression.

“Morgan's program is leading the way in training culturally responsive educators who possess the skills to identify and support students facing reading difficulties. This program is reimagining structured literacy through an equity-focused approach,” said Simone Gibson, Ph.D., assistant director of literacy at Morgan State University’s National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities. “Achieving accreditation from the International Dyslexia Association is a transformative milestone for the department and enhances our ability to address literacy disparities, equipping future educators to serve with both academic rigor and social awareness.” 

Morgan’s teacher preparation reading course work is grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR), an interdisciplinary framework based on scientifically backed research regarding reading and writing and and Critical Race Studies, an academic framework that examines how systemic racism and power structures shape laws, policies, and social institutions, with the goal of understanding and challenging racial inequalities. While the Science of Reading provides evidence-based methods for teaching reading, while Critical Race Studies highlight how systemic racism and cultural context impact literacy equity, and together they promote culturally responsive, effective instruction that addresses both skill development and social justice.

“Teacher candidates are not only prepared to critically analyze and understand the root causes of educational inequities but are also equipped with evidence-based strategies to identify and remediate reading gaps, helping to ensure all students have equitable opportunities to read”, said Dr. Gibson.

The School of Education and Urban Studies, at Morgan offers a comprehensive array of programs of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels,  all aimed at producing teachers and leaders who are equipped to provide transformational leadership at all levels of education.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:
Cheryl Stewart or Larry Jones,  for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022