Early Literacy Leadership
Academy

Your Next Step For Your School's Next Leap

The Early Literacy Leadership Academy (ELLA) is a rigorous one-year leadership certificate program created to bring together early childhood professionals from public, private and charter school settings who are committed to serving as teacher leaders from the context of their classrooms. The program combines asynchronous self-paced learning featuring in-depth readings, video lectures, and reflective assignments with synchronous live seminars and collaborative discussions. Through two semesters of intensive blended learning, ELLA participants will deepen their research-based understanding of early childhood education while cultivating essential leadership skills. Participants will be paired with a mentor who will provide guidance, support, and professional insights throughout the program. ELLA is designed for educators who are passionate about advancing literacy, leading within their schools and shaping the future of early childhood education.

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Monthly Seminars
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Mentored Learning
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Independent Study

Sampling of Seminar Topics

What constitutes quality early childhood education?

Child development theory and pedagogy

The role of oral language in early literacy development

Vivian G. Paley’s storytelling and story acting practices

Executive functioning and self-regulation through play

The neuroscience of brain development

Culture and community

Early literacy instruction


The Rice Experience

Why should you choose Rice's Early Literacy Leadership Academy?

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A LONG HISTORY. A BRIGHT FUTURE.

Rice University has a rich history of bringing great minds together in service to society, with a 55-year history in the education field. School districts all over Texas trust and hire Rice graduates as valued members of their campuses.

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FLEXIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE.

As educators, we understand that your time is at a premium. The Early Literacy Leadership Academy consists of monthly seminars, mentored learning, and independent study and is supported by online learning. Our program maximizes your time investment and offers the flexibility to help ensure your success.

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LOCALLY GROWN. GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED.

Rice is known across the world as a top-quality university. We’ve earned that stellar reputation by drawing on our strengths: A location in one of the best cities in America and a student base of diverse, exceptional individuals.

Plan of Study

ELLA teacher leaders study child development theory and research-into-practice literacy strategies that promote listening, speaking, reading, writing, and reasoning in the first semester. The second semester brings a specialization in early literacy leadership where participants focus on best practices in leadership and sharing this information with others at their campuses. Teachers completing all requirements of the ELLA program will receive a Leadership Certificate from Rice University. Prerequisites for participation in ELLA include successful completion of either SLC’s Classroom Storytelling year-long program or two SLC short courses.

Admissions

Application Deadline

March 3, 2025

Ready to apply?

To learn more about the program, please join us for an upcoming information session. If you are ready to apply, start below.

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

Resuming an application: To resume an application, please log in to your student portal. You will find a saved instance of your application in the tab titled “My Applications”.


Prerequisites

Individuals seeking to apply for the Early Literacy Leadership Academy must complete one of the following prerequisites:


Application Requirements

  • Recommendation letters from an administrator and a peer
  • Current resume
  • Short answer questions
  • Classroom observations
  • Interviews
Tuition & Scholarship

Tuition

$3,750 Total

Tuition is typically covered through campus- or district-based state or national funding, PTO support, participant payment, or individual donations. For more information, please contact slc@rice.edu.

Fellowships

Rice University believes in the importance of developing teacher leaders. The Early Literacy Leadership Academy offers a limited number of merit-based partial fellowships to highly qualified prospective students. Fellowship opportunities can be discussed during the interview stage of the application process.

Your Next Step...

Get Started Here

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