Database of Federally Funded Technical Assistance and Research Centers

National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL)

The National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL), operated by Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development with funding from the United States Department of Education, is a partnership among literacy experts, university researchers, and technical assistance providers from the University of Oregon, Florida State University, and RMC Research Corporation.

NCILs mission is to increase access to, and use of, evidence-based approaches to screen, identify, and teach students with literacy-related disabilities, including dyslexia.  They also work to build individual and organizational capacity to assess students’ literacy-related skill, identify students with disabilities or those at risk of disabilities, and fully implement evidence-based literacy programs and professional development.

Director(s): Hank Fien, Ph.D., Director, Yaacov Petscher, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Sarah Sayko, Ed.D., Deputy Director, Nancy J. Nelson Fien, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Specialty Area

  • Dyslexia
  • Effective Literacy Instruction
  • Supporting Parents and Families

Primary Audience

  • Administrators
  • Families
  • School Counselors
  • School Districts
  • Schools
  • State Education Agencies
  • Teachers

Services

  • Assessment Tools
  • Coaching
  • Content Expertise

Regions/States

National

All States

Level of Support

Additional Information

Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (RPTACs)

The Regional PTACs help OSEP’s funded network of Parent Centers address administrative/management challenges and increase their capacities to provide information and training to families of children with disabilities.  This resource takes you to the Center for Parent Information & Resources site where you can find more information about the four Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers.

Some of the Technical Assistance (TA) Services RPTACs provide to Parent Centers include:

  • One-to-one consultations 
  • Training/Webinars 
  • Training for non-profit board training members 
  • Help with needs assessment 
  • Peer-to-peer mentoring 
  • TA using technology to enhance programs and services 
  • Regional meetings and conferences 
  • Site visits  
  • Non-profit management tools 
  • Newsletters  
  • Family- and Youth-centered service strategies
Director(s): Carolyn Hayer, Director

Specialty Area

  • Parents, Families, & Youth

Primary Audience

  • Administrators
  • State Education Agencies

Services

  • Consulting
  • Content Expertise

Regions/States

National

All States

Level of Support

General

Additional Information