Home / Programs / Wilson Reading System / WRS State Recognitions

Wilson Reading System® State Recognitions


Learn about the states that have recognized Wilson Reading System® (WRS).

Alabama: Dyslexia-Specific Intervention

The Alabama State Board of Education’s Dyslexia Advisory Council has recognized Wilson Reading System as an approved dyslexia-specific intervention program for grades 4–12 meeting the requirements of the Alabama Literacy Act. Learn more here. (Please see page 22.)

Arizona: Reading Endorsement by Arizona Department of Education: K–8, 6–12, and K–12

The Arizona Department of Education endorsed Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Certification as a professional learning program that satisfies Option B of the state’s requirements for the Reading Endorsement for reading or literacy specialists, coaches, and interventionists. WRS Certification satisfies the requirement of a supervised field experience or practicum in reading. It can be applied to Reading Endorsements for grades K–8, 6–12, and K–12.

California: Meets California Social Content Review

Fundations®, Just Words®, the Wilson Reading System®, and Wilson Fluency®/Basic have been approved by the California State Board of Education as meeting the state’s social content standards. Read more here. This means the materials contained in each of Wilson’s programs: 

  • Portray accurately and equitably the cultural and racial diversity of American society.
  • Demonstrate the contribution of minority groups and males and females to the development of California and the United States.
  • Depict people in varied, positive, and contributing roles to enrich students’ school experiences.
  • Avoid inappropriate references to commercial brand names, products, and corporate or company logos.

Colorado: Approved Supplemental and Intervention Programs

The READ Act requires the Colorado Department of Education to identify quality reading instructional programs for optional use by local education agencies. Following the review process, the Wilson Reading System® was approved as an Intervention Program and Fundations® was approved as a Supplemental and Intervention Program.

Illinois State Board of Education: Approved Evidence-Based Intervention

Wilson Reading System has been added to the Illinois State Board of Education list of approved evidence-based intervention curricula.

Illinois State Board of Education: Qualified Professionals Specializing in Structured Literacy Intervention

The Illinois State Board of Education identified Wilson Language Training as an organization offering structured literacy intervention.

Indiana: Approved Dyslexia Training Programs

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has identified a set of high-quality programs that will prepare educators to become “authorized reading specialists trained in dyslexia.” The IDOE recognizes Wilson Reading System® Level I Certification on its list of approved dyslexia training programs.

Louisiana: Regulations and Guidelines for the Education of Students with Dyslexia

The Wilson Reading System® (WRS) is one of six multisensory structured language programs identified as an effective program in the remediation of dyslexia in the state’s Regulations and Guidelines for Implementation of the Louisiana Law for the Education of Dyslexic StudentsRead more here.

Maryland: Maryland Leads Partner Program 

Wilson Language Training is approved as a Maryland Leads Partner in the Science of Reading Category for Fundations®, Just Words®, and Wilson Reading System® materials and professional learning. Maryland Leads is an initiative designed to support Maryland Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in overcoming learning loss and achievement gaps from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.

New Hampshire: Dyslexia Guidelines

The New Hampshire Department of Education has developed a dyslexia resource guide designed to create an awareness of dyslexia and other related disorders. It provides information about screening and detecting young children who display associated risk factors and will assist in the implementation of age-appropriate, evidence-based intervention strategies to strengthen reading skills. Wilson Reading System® is listed in Section 5-Interventions as an evidence-based intervention. Read more here

New Mexico: Structured Literacy Instructional Materials and Professional Learning Adoption

Fundations, Just Words, and WRS have been added to the New Mexico Public Education Department’s lists of structured literacy programs and structured literacy professional learning.

North Carolina: State Improvement Project

The purpose of the North Carolina State Improvement Project is to establish program support services to significantly improve the performance and success of students with disabilities in North Carolina. The Wilson Reading System® is one of the reading programs identified for implementation.

Ohio: Approved Evidence-Based Reading Intervention Program

The Ohio Department of Education has added Wilson Reading System to their list of approved Evidence-Based Reading Intervention Programs. For more information, refer to this page of the Ohio Department of Education site.

Ohio: Approved List of Teacher Professional Development in Research-Based Reading Instruction

As part of Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee, a grade 3 student who has been retained or has a reading improvement and monitoring plan must have a teacher who meets specific experience and training guidelines. After a state review, Wilson Language Training’s Wilson Reading System® Level I Certification was approved as one of only four professional development programs in research-based reading instruction found to align with the state’s reading competencies. WRS Level I Certification training has been placed on the approved list of Professional Development in Research-Based Reading Instruction for the 2018-2019 school year. Read more here.

Texas: Phonics Grant/Texas Regional Education Service Centers

The Wilson Reading System® and Fundations® are approved reading programs a school may select to support and enhance the implementation of the state Teacher Reading Academies for Grades K–3.

Texas: The Dyslexia Handbook

The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) The Dyslexia Handbook—2018 Update: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders identifies the providers of dyslexia instruction that are prepared to use the techniques, tools, and strategies outlined in the Handbook, and can serve as trainers and consultants in dyslexia and related disorders for regular, remedial, and special education teachers in the state. Certifications for Wilson Reading System® Level I and Level II both are listed as meeting the training requirements for educators providing dyslexia services. Read more here.

Utah State Board of Education: Instructional Materials Review

The Utah State Board of Education has approved Wilson Reading System Steps 1–6 and Steps 7–12 as an evidence-based intervention curriculum as part of their ELA instructional materials review.

Virginia Department of Education: Virginia Literacy Partnership

Wilson Reading System is recommended by the Virginia Literacy Partnership for Intervention Instructional Program Materials.