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Accelerate reading achievement

Online Elementary Reading Academy

Offered and facilitated by Collaborative Classroom
in partnership with the Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education (CORE)


The Online Elementary Reading Academy (OERA) teaches educators the essential components of reading instruction, based in the science of reading, with clear and explicit models that are immediately applicable to the classroom. 

OERA takes the best of CORE’s nationally acclaimed Teaching Reading Sourcebook and packages it into a facilitated, asynchronous, online course comprised of seven self-paced modules.

Learning is facilitated by a Collaborative Classroom instructor and is kept engaging through a variety of learning strategies: video models, narrated screencasts, interactive activities simulations, online discussions, and more. 

Course Benefits

  • Highly engaging modules, completed on your own time 
  • Utilize a variety of learning strategies
  • Direct access to course facilitators
  • Course fees include the nationally recognized CORE textbooks Teaching Reading Sourcebook and Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures

Structure and Duration

This online course is divided into seven modules. Each module takes approximately 5–6 hours to complete.

The work is done on your own time, at your own pace. Participants complete the course within 10-14 weeks.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate the research on the essential components of reading instruction
  • Gain clear and explicit models of instruction immediately applicable to the classroom
  • Identify the best practices and explicit methods to develop phonemic awareness, phonics and irregular and multisyllabic word knowledge, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and literary and informational text knowledge
  • Understand the structure of the English and Spanish language system
  • Identify and use techniques to support academic language development for English learners
  • Understand how to use informal diagnostic measures of phonological awareness, decoding, fluency vocabulary and comprehension as a basis for instructional decisions

View or Download the Syllabus

Who Should Attend 

The OERA course is for teams of 20 or more elementary educators who want to learn effective standards-aligned and scientifically research-based reading practices for all learners. It is appropriate for:

  • Elementary Teachers
  • Reading specialists
  • Principals/assistant principals
  • Reading instructional coaches
  • Pre-service teachers or classes

Note: This course is not available in California. Please visit the CORE website for a California-accessible OERA course.

Course Details

The Online Elementary Reading Academy (OERA) course is offered at the request of school or district. The minimum participation requirement is 20 participants. 

Course Duration: OERA is a self-paced, asynchronous course. Educators complete the seven modules over 10-14 weeks.

Fee: $650 per participant. As professional learning, your OERA registration may be eligible for CARES Act funding to address disrupted learning; check with your school or district for eligibility. 

College Credit Option: Participants may receive three (3) graduate level semester extension units for an additional cost of $327. These units are typically used for salary advancement. There are no additional requirements beyond successful completion of the course for a total of 45 hours. Participants may register and pay for these units through Dominican University of California once the course has started.

Certificate: Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of course completion with 45 clock hours of professional learning. 

Textbooks: The CORE Teaching Reading Sourcebook and Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures textbooks and all other course materials are included in the fee.

Technology: This is a fully online course. Participants must have regular access to computers with an Internet connection and be proficient with email and current Internet browsers.

Are you interested in organizing a course for your school or district? Please contact your local education consultant for assistance.