Wyoming Rolls out Big-Tent Push to Boost Reading: New Training, Dyslexia Certs, and Grants

The  original story by Jeremy Downing for Wyoming News Now.

Wyoming is going all-in on reading. State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder just unveiled a statewide Language & Literacy Initiative that pulls together lawmakers, universities, nonprofits, and classroom leaders to raise reading achievement for every student in the state.

“This isn’t a one-off,” Degenfelder said. “It’s an unprecedented coalition of state education leaders and parents united around ensuring that every kid in Wyoming can read at grade level. Literacy is the gateway to learning.”

Who’s at the table: the Wyoming Department of Education; members of the Legislature’s Joint Education Committee; the Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB); the University of Wyoming’s College of Education, Literacy Research Center & Clinic, Division of Communication Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology), and Early Childhood Education; advocacy groups like WYO Right to Read; partners including Cox Campus; plus the John P. Ellbogen Foundation.

Here’s what’s coming first. The WDE will offer statewide “science of reading” professional development in structured literacy, in partnership with Cox Campus. The University of Wyoming is expanding literacy coursework across preservice, in-service, and graduate programs, and — critically — launching a Dyslexia Specialist Program through the UW Literacy Research Center & Clinic with the International Dyslexia Association.

On the credentialing side, PTSB is baking the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards into its program reviews and creating a new Structured Literacy Certificate so educators can show they have the tools to move the needle for all readers. It’s also standing up a Dyslexia Specialist endorsement for those who complete UW’s new program.

“The PTSB has created a Structured Literacy Certificate endorsement… and a Dyslexia Specialist endorsement… to provide more in-depth diagnostic support for students who have dyslexia and other reading difficulties,” said PTSB Executive Director Brendan O’Connor. “We’re happy to once again partner with WDE and UW to provide quality instruction to the students of Wyoming.”

Fueling the effort, the Ellbogen Foundation has awarded $16,500 to launch the Ellbogen Language and Literacy Fellowship, covering up to 100 Wyoming educators to earn national certification via the KPEERI (Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction).

“Literacy is the foundation of all learning,” said Dr. Jenna Shim, John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean of UW’s College of Education. “Ensuring that all Wyoming students can read and write successfully requires a true coalition of educators, policymakers, and communities working together.”

There’s also fresh federal money on the way. On Sept. 26, the WDE announced a $24.4 million grant to improve literacy instruction statewide. Districts can apply in a competitive process that opens January 2026.

Bottom line: Wyoming is aligning teacher training, credentials, and funding around evidence-based reading instruction — with dedicated pathways for dyslexia support — so schools can deliver earlier interventions and better outcomes where it matters most: in the classroom.