Our Road to ILA National Recognition

Loyola University Maryland’s M.Ed. in Literacy Education, Reading Specialist program was recognized by the International Literacy Association (ILA) for its outstanding preparation of literacy professionals and continuous efforts to transform lives through literacy. Loyola is the only institution in Maryland that offers a reading specialist program aligned to the new ILA standards. Additionally, Loyola is one of only five literacy programs in the entire United States to receive this recognition.

Literacy Education Co-directors, Leah Katherine Saal, Ph.D. and Kristina Collins, shared with the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) digital magazine, Literacy Today, the path they took to reflect on, reevaluate, and revise the curriculum to ultimately achieve national recognition.

“This recognition demonstrates that our 30-hour program is committed to excellence and preparing literacy graduates to address challenges in education while serving as sources of change in their communities,” said Kristina Collins. “As equity is a cornerstone of our standards and curriculum, this recognition also highlights our work in training literacy leaders to work for social justice and educational equity.” 

“This ILA National Recognition and our corresponding school-based practica showcase the value our program places on partnerships with the school systems and, especially, the culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 students, families, and communities we serve,” added Leah Katherine Saal.