Three Pathways for training
Basic Training
This training prepared the trainee to implement the MTA dyslexia program in Texas schools. A bachelor's degree is required.
*Check with individual districts to determine what TEA certification, if any, they will require. There is not a dyslexia specific certification at the TEA level. However, most districts will expect the teacher to maintain at least one TEA certification.
Cost: $1,000 for first year and $560 for second year
First Year Requirements
- Five initial days covering the foundations of dyslexia annd the basics of the MTA program, focusing on Kit 1 of the 7 kits.
- Two follow-up days focusing on Kit 2 and Kit 3 of the program, respectively.
Second Year
- Four follow-up days focusing on Kits 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the program.
* If the teacher will start teaching students who are already in the advanced kits, they may choose to train in all the kits during the first year and not wait.
Teachers will be responsible for obtaining the MTA curriculum prior to training. Most teachers borrow the materials from their current district. KME Dyslexia Training Program will provide a training binder to all participants with the appropriate handouts to assist in the training process. Teachers will also receive a mirror, a set of phonological awareness manipulatives, a set of plastic alphabet letters, an alphabet strip, and a copy of "Concrete Strategies for Teaching Comprehension Skills" book and set of review cards.
Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP)
This is a professional license through the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA – www.altaread.org). This is a one-year training program that will focus on the first three kits of the MTA program. It will begin with the same seven days of training as the basic training. However, additional training days and other assignments are required. Bachelor’s Degree Required. All facets of the training must be completed in a minimum of 9 months and a maximum of 24 months.
Cost: $2,250 ($1,000 for the basic training + $1,250 for the additional course work.)
Additional Requirements:
- Seven additional training days covering language development, structural linguistics, dyslexia and related disorders, identification, multisensory structured language strategies, state and federal law, and ethics. Ten days of the training typically takes place over the summer, with four follow-up days scheduled throughout the school year.
- Submission of teaching hours log. Each candidate must maintain a minimum of one group that is taught the MTA program. This could be in a school setting or private practice. ALTA requires a minimum of 60 teaching hours.
- Submission of five videos of the trainee teaching a complete MTA lesson to students to be evaluated by the QI to assist the trainee in continuous improvement.
- Submission of two book reports from a pre-approved reading list.
- Submission of a Case Study concerning a student being served by the trainee on their progress in the program.
- Additional reading of articles that will be assigned to be pre-read before training classes to be discussed as a group.
- Presentation of a practicum project to the training group.
- Submission of 6 hours of continuing education showing attendance at a dyslexia-related professional conference.
Upon completion of all requirements, the trainee will submit documentation to ALTA for approval. Trainee will then be able to sit for the board exam. Current fee for this is $180 payable to ALTA. Once the trainee has passed the exam, ALTA will issue membership card at the CALP level. If desired, the trainee can then apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to obtain a state license of Licensed Dyslexia Practitioner (LDP). Additional fee does apply.
In addition to the intro training materials, teachers will also recveive copies of the articles to be read, and the complete set of "5 Minute Activities: Concrete Multisensory Grammar."
Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
This is a professional license through the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA – www.altaread.org). This is a two-year training program that will cover all seven kits of the MTA program. It requires successful completion of the first year of training and all its requirements (CALP level). Master’s Degree Required. All facets of the training must be completed in a minimum of 21 months and a maximum of 60 months.
*Please note that ALTA does allow trainees to complete their CALT training with a bachelor’s degree only. They will give an additional five-year grace period for the candidate to complete a master’s degree. If the Master’s degree is not completed within the grace period, the license level will revert from CALT to CALP.
Cost: $2,250 for year two plus the cost of the year one training for a total of $4,500
Additional Requirements:
- Four days of training on Kits 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively (Same as from the basic training).
- Ten additional training days covering language development, structural linguistics, dyslexia and related disorders, identification, multisensory structured language strategies, state and federal law, and ethics. The first ten days (Advanced Kits plus six days) typically take place over the summer, with four follow-up days scheduled throughout the school year.
- Submission of teaching hours log. Each candidate must maintain a minimum of one group that is taught the MTA program. This could be in a school setting or private practice. ALTA requires a minimum of 700 hours total for the two years (or up to five years if additional time is required).
- Submission of five additional videos of the trainee teaching a complete MTA lesson to students to be evaluated by the QI to assist the trainee in continuous improvement.
- Submission of two additional book reports from a pre-approved reading list.
- Submission of an additional Case Study on a student being served by the trainee on their progress in the program.
- Additional reading of articles that will be assigned to be pre-read before training classes to be discussed as a group.
- Presentation of a second-year practicum project to the training group.
- Submission of an additional 6 hours of continuing education showing attendance at a dyslexia related professional conference.
Upon completion of all requirements, the trainee will submit documentation to ALTA for approval. Trainee will then be able to sit for the board exam. Current fee for this is $180 payable to ALTA. Once the trainee has passed the exam, ALTA will issue membership card at the CALT level. If desired, the trainee can then apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to obtain a state license of Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT). Additional fee does apply.
In addition to the intro training and CALP training materials, teachers will receive all of the second year articles to be read, a copy of "Writing Skills" by Diana Hanbury King and other curricular materials.
MTA "Cross-Training" for current CALTs
This three-day training will prepare currently licensed CALTs to teach the Multisensory Teaching Approach.
Cost: $500
This three-day training will prepare CALTs previously trained in a different Orton-Gillingham dyslexia program to teach MTA. Day 1 will focus on understanding the MTA scope and sequence, identifying the different prerequisites for each part of the lesson cycle, and using the curricular materials. Day 2 will focus on lesson planning and progress monitoring using MTA for sped goals. Day 3 will focus on the advanced portion of the curriculum and with added emphasis on morphology with the introduction of Greek and Latin roots.
Teachers will be responsible for obtaining the MTA curriculum prior to training. Most teachers borrow the materials from their current district. KME Dyslexia Training Program will provide a training binder to all participants with the appropriate handouts to assist in the training process.