The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Arkansas Reading First and the Arkansas Education Service Cooperatives announce the opportunity for teachers and administrators in Grades K-4 to participate in long-term professional development with a focus on improving literacy instruction and student achievement in literacy. The trainings are based on the Arkansas English Language Arts Framework and research provided by the National Reading Panel Report.
Schools will be required to purchase professional texts for the training (approximately $500 per teacher) and provide substitute teacher’s expenses for sessions held during the school year. A list of required texts and a timeline of the sessions are attached.
The professional development opportunities require a two-year commitment in order to foster systemic change in literacy instruction. Initial training will begin in the summer of 2008, with continued training through FY2009-2010. Descriptions and timelines of the long-term professional development opportunities are attached.
Registration forms and spring deadline information are available from Literacy Specialists at the local education service cooperative. http://arkansased.org/schools/schools_coops.html
Tri-District educators should contact the school professional development coordinator.