Reading specialist vs special education teacher
By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated
Short answer
A reading specialist is a teacher with advanced training in reading who helps any struggling reader, often through intervention groups and coaching. A special education teacher is licensed to teach students with disabilities and is responsible for the IEP. The deciding question: who is responsible for your child's IEP goals? That person is the special education teacher, even if a reading specialist also helps.
Many children who struggle with reading work with more than one teacher. A parent may hear about the reading specialist, the interventionist, the special education teacher and the classroom teacher, all in one meeting. This page explains how the reading specialist and the special education teacher differ, and how they can work together for your child.
The one-sentence difference
A reading specialist is a reading expert who helps students who are behind in reading, whether or not they have a disability. A special education teacher is trained to teach students with disabilities and is in charge of carrying out the IEP.
The deciding question: Who is responsible for your child's IEP goals? That is the special education teacher (or, for some goals, a related service provider like a speech-language pathologist). A reading specialist may teach your child too, but usually as intervention or as part of a plan the IEP team sets up.
Side-by-side comparison
| Reading specialist | Special education teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Teach struggling readers, coach teachers, run screening and intervention | Teach students with disabilities and carry out IEPs |
| Who they serve | Any student who is behind in reading | Students who are eligible for special education |
| Training | Teaching license plus advanced study in reading; often a master's degree and a reading endorsement, depending on the state | Teaching license in special education, set by the state |
| Subjects | Reading and writing | Any area in the IEP: reading, math, writing, behavior, life skills |
| Basis | School or district reading program, often funded through general or federal school funds | IDEA and state special education rules |
| Who assigns them | School leaders, based on screening data | The IEP team decides services; the school assigns staff |
| IEP team role | May attend if invited for their knowledge of your child | A required member of the IEP team |
| Where their work is documented | Intervention plans, screening records | The IEP, progress reports and service logs |
| Progress reports | Varies by school | Required on the schedule in the IEP |
The IEP team must include at least one special education teacher or provider of the child.[1] Other people with knowledge or special expertise about your child, like a reading specialist, can join at your request or the school's.[1] States set the qualifications for special education teachers.[2]
How they often work together
In many schools, the reading specialist runs screening and intervention groups for all students. When a student with an IEP needs reading instruction, the special education teacher plans and teaches it. Some schools have the two co-plan, share data or even teach parts of a lesson together.
Who delivers IEP reading services depends on your state and district. The IEP should say what services your child gets, how often and where. If you are not sure who teaches your child, ask.
Three scenarios
Scenario 1. Mia is in 1st grade with no IEP. A fall screening shows she is behind in letter sounds. She meets with the reading specialist in a group of 4, four days a week.
Answer: Reading specialist. Why: Mia does not have a disability identified. The reading specialist gives intervention to students who are behind.
Scenario 2. Leo is in 3rd grade and has an IEP for a specific learning disability in reading. His IEP lists 250 minutes a week of specialized reading instruction. The special education teacher teaches him daily in a group of 3, using the same reading program the reading specialist uses.
Answer: Special education teacher. Why: Leo's IEP services are delivered and monitored by the special education teacher. The shared program helps both teachers talk about his progress.
Scenario 3. Ella is in 5th grade and has an IEP for ADHD with goals in organization and writing, but none in reading. Her fluency score is low, so she joins the reading specialist's group twice a week.
Answer: Both, for different needs. Why: The special education teacher handles her IEP goals. The reading specialist provides reading intervention outside the IEP. If her reading concerns grow, her parents can ask the IEP team to look at adding reading goals.
Questions to ask the school
- "Who teaches my child reading each day, and for how many minutes?"
- "Is this reading help part of the IEP, or is it intervention?"
- "Who writes my child's reading goals and reports progress on them?"
- "Do the reading specialist and special education teacher share data about my child?"
- "Can the reading specialist come to the IEP meeting?"
How progress is tracked
Either teacher may give short, timed readings to track progress. A common one is a 1-minute reading of a new passage, scored as words read correctly. The scores go on a reading fluency data sheet and are graphed over time. The oral reading fluency guide explains how this works.
For a child with an IEP, the special education teacher reports this progress against the IEP goals on a schedule. You can see example goals in the reading goal bank and in these IEP goal examples for reading.
More on reading help at school
For the difference between intervention and special education services, see reading intervention vs special education. For whether help happens in the classroom or another room, see pull-out vs push-in reading intervention. To understand the research behind modern reading teaching, see the science of reading for special educators. For everyone else who may sit on your child's IEP team, see the IEP meeting guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can a reading specialist teach a child with an IEP?
Often, yes. Many reading specialists teach intervention groups that include students with IEPs. Whether a reading specialist can deliver the IEP's reading services depends on state and district rules. The IEP should say what services your child gets and where.
Is a reading specialist the same as a dyslexia specialist?
Not always. A reading specialist has broad training in reading. Some also have extra training in dyslexia or structured literacy. Ask about a teacher's specific training if your child has dyslexia.
Who should I talk to about my child's reading?
Start with your child's classroom teacher. If your child has an IEP, talk with the special education teacher or case manager. If your child is in an intervention group, ask to talk with the reading specialist too.
Can I ask for the reading specialist to attend my child's IEP meeting?
Yes. The IEP team can include other people with knowledge or special expertise about your child, at your request or the school's. Let the school know ahead of time.
Use it in IEP Atlas
- Reading IEP goals
- Oral reading fluency measurement guide
- Reading fluency data sheet
- IEP team in the IEP glossary
Related guides
- Reading intervention for students with IEPs: assess, group, teach, monitor
- The science of reading for special educators
- Reading intervention vs special education reading services
- IEP goal examples for reading
- Pull-out vs push-in reading intervention
Sources
- 34 CFR §300.321: IEP Team, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
- 34 CFR §300.156: Personnel qualifications, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.