Project DECODE
Developing Expertise and Collaborative Opportunities for Dyslexia Educators
Project Summary
Project DECODE at the University of Florida is a personnel preparation project designed to provide interdisciplinary preparation for special education and school psychology personnel. School psychologists and special education teachers collaborate through both systems-level (i.e., multi-tiered systems of support) and support of individual students with dyslexia in schools. Special education teachers’ expertise in reading development and intervention planning informs appropriate assessment procedures and evaluation recommendations, and school psychologists’ expertise in assessment administration and interpretation informs special education teachers’ intervention planning. Project DECODE activities capitalize on the developing expertise of both groups and support development of professional collaboration skills for future partnerships when practicing in schools.
The goal of the project is to develop 60 scholars with deep knowledge and expertise in evidence-based assessment and intervention practices for students with learning disabilities who have high-intensity academic needs, including dyslexia, developmental language disorder, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Project funding supports students earning M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees in special education and school psychology.
Project DECODE is now accepting applications. Learn more about special education or school psychology.
Project DECODE Faculty and Staff
Holly Lane, PhD
Principal Investigator (PI)
Kristi Cheyney-Collante, PhD
Project Coordinator and Co-Principal Investigator
Katie Maki, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Vivian Gonsalves, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Valentina Contesse, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Alyssa Ricke, EdD
Project Staff
Project DECODE Students
2023 Cohort
- Jordyn Thomas
- William T. Matics
- Molly Tracy-Harris
- Mariesa McFarland
School Psychology
- Maggie McElhaney
- Brooke Beyma
- Caitlin Franklin
2024 Cohort
- Chenelle Cobb
- Katelynn McNew
- Mariah Shipe
- Meghan Moriarty
- Grace Miles
- Jordyn Thomas
School Psychology
- Kelsie Thoma
- Maddy Lester
- Harrison Leslie
- Jacqueline Villareal
- Sarah Dubner
For more information on Project DECODE, please contact Dr. Kristi Cheyney-Collante.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs’ Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities—Interdisciplinary Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs (CFDA # 84.325K, Focus Area B).
Project DECODE: Developing Expertise and Collaborative Opportunities for Dyslexia Educators. (PI: Holly Lane, Co-PI/Co-Director: Kristi Cheyney-Collante, Co-PIs: Kathryn Maki, Vivian Gonsalves, & Valentina Contesse). Funded – $1,250,000 (2022). PR/Award # H325K220083.
