The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announces the availability of funds for literacy coach training for a school employee from a qualifying school.
The Arkansas Literacy Coaching Model is based on research on school reform and includes the important principles of school change, as outlined by Doug Reeves (1997). In order to promote systemic change, it is critical that teachers are supported in the change process. A literacy coach is a site-based employee with expertise in literacy, who provides onsite professional development. The primary responsibilities of the literacy coach are to demonstrate exemplary classroom literacy practices, observe and coach teachers, provide sustained mentoring to classroom teachers, plan and conduct professional literacy team meetings, provide workshops on the literacy framework and maintain data on student performance.
Depending on the number qualifying school districts who agree to participate, training expenses (approximately $10,000) will be funded by the ADE through the Early Literacy Training Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Grant funds will provide graduate level training, professional materials, room, board, travel expenses, and materials to establish a model classroom.
Participation in the Arkansas Literacy Coaching Model requires the following:
--Administrator participation in an orientation of the coaching model project and four follow-up sessions during the school year on school reform and balanced literacy.
--Qualified personnel selected as a literacy coach to participate in the training.
--Literacy coach trainee participation in nine weeks of graduate level work provided in two- and three-week intervals scheduled throughout the school year and held at the Early Literacy Training Center in Little Rock.
--Willingness to implement the model with full compliance of program assurances.
--Full implementation of Reading Recovery and staff participation in balanced literacy instruction (Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas (ELLA) and EFFECTIVE LITERACY for Grades 2-4).
Attached is complete information concerning school and personnel requirements for participation in the training. Interested school districts must complete the attached application and commitment forms and return them by the response deadline date of Friday, July 14, 2000, to the following:
Krista Underwood, Reading Program Manager
Early Childhood and Reading Unit
Arkansas Department of Education
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-5615