The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) will host a teleconference Friday, September 23, 2005, from 8:30 am – 10:00 am for the purpose of providing information regarding Intensive Reading Improvement (IRI). Following the teleconference, a special training session for administering the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Learning Skills (DIBELS) will be held from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Act 35 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2003 requires that all students in Kindergarten, first and second grades with substantial deficiencies in reading be provided intensive reading instruction. The Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP) rule requires that these students be evaluated for the purpose of diagnosing specific reading difficulties. The evaluation shall include the DIBELS.
The teleconference will provide information on the rules governing the IRI and how to access the IRI form located on the NORMES site.
One building administrator responsible for the implementation of the IRI and one faculty member who will provide training to school staff should attend the morning teleconference.
The person responsible for training school staff should remain and attend the training session. The Arkansas Department of Education will provide a training kit for each K-2 building.
Those schools that have personnel trained to administer the DIBELS should attend the morning teleconference session. It is not necessary to attend the training session.
Please contact the Education Cooperative Teacher Center Coordinator regarding registration. Attendees from the Little School District are directed to attend the teleconference and training session at Metropolitan Voc-Tech High School. Attendees from the North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special School Districts should attend the teleconference and training session at the ADE Maumelle site.