Approve Technical Service Agreements for Spring 2007-2008 Reading Endorsement Competency Courses (Information and Technology Division)

The Reading Endorsement Program will conduct Spring 2007-2008 online and face to face competency training January 28, 2008, through May 27, 2008, for approximately 1,000 teachers.

The Reading Endorsement is an “add-on” to other certifications. Teachers who teach identified reading courses are required to add the Reading Endorsement to their certificates. The Reading Endorsement must be added in order to remain in compliance with federally mandated requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The Reading Endorsement consists of 300 inservice points which teachers complete through five 60-inservice hour state approved Reading Endorsement competency courses: Competency 1- Foundations of Language and Cognition; Competency 2- Foundations of Research-Based Practices; Competency 3- Foundations of Assessment; Competency 4/5- Foundations and Application of Differentiated Instruction; and Competency 6- Demonstration of Accomplished Practices.

Agreements for Technical Services have been prepared for the attached list of Reading Endorsement Competency course trainers. Reading Endorsement trainers are certified to train Reading Endorsement Competency courses through rigorous instruction and practice while completing the train the trainer courses. In order to provide teachers with courses needed to become ‘highly qualified” under the NCLB mandate, permission is requested to add and delete trainers as needed, not to exceed the budgeted amount of $85,000.

Goal 1: The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of five percentage points. Critical Success Factor: Assign high-performing teachers to teach students performing below grade level.

Goal 5: The district will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of ten percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind. Critical Success Factor: Provide Staff Development programs that match instructional delivery strategies with diverse student achievement needs.

Funds of $85,000 are included in the Comprehensive Reading Plan, Staff Development Project 4526. Trainers are paid a flat fee of $2,000 to train a 60 inservice hour Reading Endorsement Competency course.

Participants will complete an online course evaluation of the training.