Centers and Scholarship
NLU’s National College of Education is home to several research and professional development centers, and supports scholarship that engages faculty, students and stakeholders in addressing some of today’s most pressing educational challenges. Funded by federal and state government grants, non-profit philanthropy and fee-for-service activities, this work spans educational research, policy analysis, program assessment and evaluation, and professional development.
McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
A cornerstone of the National College of Education, the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership is dedicated to building the leadership potential of early childhood educators through professional development, evaluation, research and public awareness. the McCormick Center programs provide credentialing, extensive support for program assessment, policy analysis and other initiatives to support the development of early childhood education leaders.
- 35,000+ early childhood leaders have engaged in our programs.
- We’ve conducted 12,000+ assessments of Illinois’ early childhood programs.
- 7,500+ individuals have attended the annual Leadership Connections National Conference.
- Our staff has served on 125 early childhood committees.
Reading Recovery® Center for Literacy at National Louis University
One of ten national centers serving 22 school districts across Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Florida, the Reading Recovery® Center for Literacy at National Louis University is dedicated to developing and supporting professional learning networks linking PK-12 educators and leaders with a systemic approach to improving literacy instruction for all children.
Reading Recovery® is a professional development project with a two-tier level of curriculum that is effectively replicated across the United States and internationally. It’s the most effective early literacy intervention for preventing early reading difficulties when embedded within a systemic comprehensive approach to improving teacher expertise through continuing education, job embedded coaching, action research and evaluation. National Louis University faculty provide professional development to teacher leaders who work at school district sites providing professional development to Reading Recovery® teachers.
The Center for Teaching through Children's Books
The center advocates excellence in teaching with quality literature for children and adolescents, encompassing multicultural voices, social justice issues, outreach activities, digital books and resources, and partnerships with schools, libraries and other organizations.
The Center for Literacy
The Center provides student instruction, professional development, district, school and classroom consultation and research. The center functions as a training site for graduate students in the Reading Specialist program, as well as for a selected group of undergraduate trainees.
