The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announces the opportunity for schools to participate in the Arkansas Mid-Level Literacy Coaching Model (Grades 4-5) and to train a school-based employee to serve as a full-time literacy coach.
The Arkansas Comprehensive Literacy Model is grounded in research and includes important principles of school change. In order for schools to experience change, it is critical that teachers are supported through the change process. A literacy coach is a site-based employee who works full time with the staff providing onsite professional development, technical assistance, and support to teachers as they implement the comprehensive literacy model. The primary responsibilities of the literacy coach are to demonstrate exemplary classroom literacy practices, observe and coach teachers, provide sustained coaching and mentoring to classroom teachers, plan and conduct team meetings, and collect, analyze and report school data to administrators, staff, parents, school board, ADE, and the training center as needed or requested.
Depending on the number of qualifying school districts who agree to participate, training expenses for Year 1 of implementation will be funded by the ADE through the training center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Grant funds will provide graduate level training, professional materials, site visits, lodging, and travel expenses. Priority will be given to schools designated in school improvement.
Participation in the Arkansas Comprehensive Model requires:
* Administrator support by complying with the responsibilities and assurances outlined by the training center.
* Qualified personnel that meets rigorous standards for reading professionals established by the International Reading Association.
* Qualified individual with a Master’s degree, will have a reading endorsement on the teaching certificate or have at least a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average to be eligible for admittance in the UALR graduate program. (In accordance with guidelines established by the U S Department of Education, by 2006, Reading Specialists must have a Master’s degree in reading or a reading endorsement to be considered highly qualified in order to serve in that capacity.)
* Participation of the literacy coach trainee in eight weeks of graduate level work provided throughout the school year beginning August 23-27, 2004, at UALR.
* The model must be implemented with the FULL compliance as outlined by the UALR training center and the ADE.
Continued implementation of the Arkansas Comprehensive Literacy Model including:
* Classroom implementation in Grades K-3.
* Full implementation of Reading Recovery for the lowest achieving first graders and the Arkansas Early Literacy Group Model for struggling kindergarten through third grade students.
Attached is information concerning school and personnel requirements for participation in the training. Interested school districts must submit the attached application and commitment forms by July 30, 2004.
Debbie Coffman
K-12 Literacy Program Manager
Attn: AR Mid-Level Literacy Coaching
Arkansas Department of Education
#4 Capitol Mall, Room 401-B
Little Rock, AR 72201