In this edition of the Alaska Reading Newsletter:
- A Message from Lon Garrison of AASB
- Introduction to Alyeska Reading Institute *NEW
- DEED Assessment Outreach Project Survey *NEW
- Statewide Assessment Review Opportunities *NEW
- Alaska Distance Learning Consortium (ADLC) *NEW
- Alaska Reads Act - Reporting and Data Collections/Literacy Screener **New
- Alaska DEED Free Course Guidelines/Expectations
- DEED/R16CC Professional Development *UPDATED
- Important DUE DATES regarding Alaska Reads Act requirements *UPDATED
- 2023 SoR Symposium Recordings and Information - *2024 Dates Announced
- Reads Act Implementation Webinars/Info
- DEED Reading Resource webpages *UPDATED
- Alaska School Spotlights - *Accepting Submissions
- AKLearns and Quick Links *UPDATED
- Meet the Academic Support Team - We are growing! *UPDATED
Please help us grow readership by forwarding this newsletter to all staff, your colleagues, and interested stakeholders. Encourage them to subscribe using the link provided at the end of the newsletter!
Science of Reading Success Depends on School Boards
Lon Garrison
Executive Director, Association of Alaska School Boards
With the passage of the Alaska Reads Act by the 32nd Alaska Legislature, the Science of Reading (SOR) has been thrust into the spotlight as the way forward to improve early student literacy. SOR is a multifaceted, science and evidence-based approach to teaching students how to read -in any language. A key element to ensuring the implementation and effective transition of an SOR approach is the support and involvement of local school boards. Locally elected school boards are the governance body of our public education system that set policy and allocate resources (funding) to educate the district's students. School boards have specific responsibilities that will affect the success of the Alaska Reads Act and the Science of Reading approach.
First, school boards are the local adopters of the curriculum for any instruction within the district, including the Science of Reading. It is critically important for school boards, their administration, and teaching staff to collaborate and work together to find the best fit of both instructional practice and instructional materials that will fulfill the intent of the Alaska Reads Act through the Science of Reading.
The allocation of resources, primarily funding and the approval of staffing for the effective implementation of the Science of Reading, is also the board's sole responsibility. During times of dwindling and insufficient education funding, this is not an easy task. Advocacy and communication by school boards and their administrators to the Alaska Legislature, the Governor, and DEED may be a necessary part of this responsibility if appropriate and effective reading support is to be achieved.
Policy is the purview of local school boards to govern the district. School boards may need to review board policies focused on instruction, students, and personnel to ensure they provide the necessary guidance and support for SOR. Boards may find that their policies are adequate but that administrative regulation, the administrative response to policy, needs to be modified for alignment with the practice of the Science of Reading.
Lastly, school boards must hold themselves accountable through monitoring and evaluation. Because school boards are the final authority within a school district for meeting the requirements of the law and local expectations for student success, they must monitor progress through appropriate evaluation. School boards must work with their staff to effectively use data to inform their decisions. It is through this process that school boards can effect changes, like the implementation of the Science of Reading, and ultimately improve student outcomes like early literacy.
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Introduction to
Alyeska Reading Institute
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The Alyeska Reading Institute (ARI) is a division within DEED specifically designed to support districts and provide services for the successful implementation of the Alaska Reads Act. With a team of highly qualified reading experts, ARI offers adult-centered and student-centered learning opportunities. Our services will be accessible remotely or on-site in the Anchorage area.
ARI's intervention programs and supplemental materials are aligned with the Science of Reading and the AK Reads Act. By utilizing ARI tutoring services, we can provide support to both your staff and students. Instructional staff can observe the delivery of high-quality reading instruction enhancing their own knowledge and skills. Students will have access to personalized reading instruction based on their Individual Reading Improvement Plan (IRIPs). This instruction will be supplemental to the core literacy program offered before, during, or after the instructional day.
If you would like more information about the Alyeska Reading Institute, please reach out to the ARI Director, Carol Boatman at carol.boatman@alaska.gov. We look forward to partnering with your district and families to ensure all Alaskan children are reading by the end of third grade.
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DEED Assessment
Outreach Project Survey
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The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has partnered with Denali Daniels + Associates to host a series of discussions and information gathering activities to better understand the assessment needs of entities serving Alaska Native students. We are seeking input from parents, educators, and community members interested in contributing to perspectives about assessments for Alaska Native students.
>>>>CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY<<<<
If you would like to get more information about the DEED Assessment Outreach Project, please click the links below.
Please visit our LANDING PAGE which includes an ISSUE PAPER with more information about what we covered in this survey, and a link to sign up to receive future information about the Assessment Outreach Project.
This survey will be open until the end of summer 2023! Please share with others you think would be interested.
DEED is recruiting!
Alaska's Statewide Assessment
Review Opportunities
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DEED is recruiting for three virtual events that Alaska educators can be involved in the assessment item development process for AK STAR, the Alaska Science Assessment, or both! If you have a strong understanding of Alaska’s current academic standards and currently live in Alaska, we’d love to have you participate!
AK STAR Field Test Item Review
Alaska educators will evaluate and provide feedback on new AK STAR test items, verify alignment to Alaska’s ELA and mathematics academic standards, and review for bias and sensitivity. The review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $250 stipend for full participation.
Friday, August 25 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 26 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Alaska Science Assessment Data Review
Alaska educators will review and provide feedback on test item data from the spring 2023 administration. This review will assist DEED and DRC in building operational assessments for future administrations. The data review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $100 stipend for full participation.
Wednesday, October 3 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Alaska Science Assessment Item Review
Alaska educators will provide feedback on newly developed test items to be field tested in spring 2024. Selected panelists will review for content, alignment to the K-12 Science Standards for Alaska, and bias and sensitivity. The review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $250 stipend for full participation.
Friday, October 6 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 7 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
See the flyer below for more information!
Complete the assessment interest form if you’d like to participate in any of these virtual events. Only completed applications will be considered.
Alaska Distance
Learning Consortium
DEED would like to share some exciting news about the Alaska Reads Act. One of the developing components of the AK Reads Act is the Alaska Distance Learning Consortium (ADLC).
What is the ADLC?
ADLC is a network of schools working together to provide distance learning opportunities to Alaska students. Whether your district already has a robust distance learning program or is looking for a way to provide more distance learning courses, the ADLC is an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow Alaska school districts and expand the courses available to your student population.
The main requirements of the ADLC are stated in the Alaska Reads Act. Still, many of the fine details will be decided by the ADLC Governing Board consisting of six representatives from around the state (pending State Board of Education approval of virtual education consortium regulations). The main responsibility of the governing board is to establish and maintain a database of virtual education courses available to Alaska students. The board will also be part of selecting professional development for teachers pertaining to virtual learning and adopting a policy to determine previous experience and skills needed for a teacher to deliver or facilitate virtual coursework through the consortium database. Additionally, the governing board will take part in evaluating and selecting courses for students that meet course requirements set forth by the Department of Education and Early Development.
This is an exciting time to broaden the courses offered to our students by our very own Alaska teachers. Please take a few minutes to complete the application for the ADLC governing board or encourage a representative from your district to apply. The application deadline is August 15, 2023. We anticipate one in-person meeting this fall and one in the spring. All other meetings will be virtual. Note that SY 23-24 is for setting up the Board and meetings, while SY 24-25 will be for the actual launch of ADLC.
DEED looks forward to connecting with Alaska schools to promote distance learning opportunities. Thank you for your partnership!
Questions? Please contact Emily.Svedin@alaska.gov.
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Reporting and Data Collections
Districts - The DEED Data Team has provided a document to use as guidance for reporting and data collections. This document can be located here.
State-Sponsored Literacy Screener
The Alaska Reads Act went into effect July 1, 2023 requiring a literacy screener be administered to all students in Kindergarten through grade three. Any person responsible for administering the literacy screener assessment is required to attend a minimum of one full initial training prior to administering the assessment.
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IMPORTANT FREE COURSE INFORMATION
K-3 Alaska Reads Act Verified: Alaska DEED FREE Reads Act
Professional Development Courses
Guidelines/Expectations – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
All certified educators who teach, provide, and/or supervise reading instruction to students in grades K-3 must complete Alaska DEED-approved evidenced-based training (these courses are currently open to anyone working in K-6). An educator is defined as a professional who is responsible for, creates, or supervises the literacy instruction of student(s). This may include, but not limited to, the primary classroom teacher, an instructional coach, a reading Interventionist (in grades K-3), a special education teacher, an English language learner teacher, a Title I teacher, building principal, director, or ANY other educators who are responsible for supervising/delivering reading instruction and have been employed to teach kindergarten or any of grades one through three.
Alaska DEED is covering the cost of an educator to participate in one FREE PD course to meet Alaska Reads Act educator requirements (currently, Keys to Literacy, NWEA for Leaders, and LETRS). An educator must successfully COMPLETE a course in its entirety to avoid being dropped from the course. Please check your schedule for live session dates and the coursework requirements for potential conflicts prior to enrolling. The expectations of these graduate-level courses are listed below:
- Attend ALL virtual-live meetings for the course (MUST attend the FIRST and LAST meetings)
- Complete ALL modules in the asynchronous online course.
- Complete the pre-assessment and receive a passing score on the post-assessment.
- Complete ALL course requirements within the course timeframe.
In the case of emergency, participants may miss one meeting in between the first and last meetings but need to attend the missed live session facilitated by Alaska DEED within the course timeframe. You MUST notify a course instructor or Alaska DEED (akreads@alaska.gov) before the next course meeting if an emergency arises.
Due to the high cost and demand of these courses, Alaska DEED must avoid losing course seats due to registrants not participating or dropping courses. Should this be the case, please understand that registering for a course that you do not complete may result in loss of priority to register for free Alaska DEED professional development in the future. Keep in mind, this could mean paying for a course or exam out of pocket to meet Alaska Reads Act educator requirements if no seats become available in the FREE Alaska DEED courses.
Relevant Alaska Reads Act Teacher Requirement Regulations:
Beginning July 1, 2023, if the applicant seeks to qualify for certification under AS 14.20.015 or AS 14.20.020 to teach students in grades kindergarten through three, has met the requirements of 4 AAC 12.393(a).
To qualify for a K-3 Reads Act Verification, an educator shall:
(1) hold a teacher certificate issued under 4 AAC 12.305; and
(2) submit documentation to the department that the applicant has
a. completed three semester hours or the equivalent of an evidence-based reading
training that includes a summative assessment and is approved by the department; or
b. achieved or exceeded the required score under 4 AAC 12.407 for
i. the ETS Praxis II Teaching Reading examination, test code 5204;
ii. the ETS Praxis II Teaching Reading: Elementary examination, test code 5205;
iii. the ETS Praxis II Teaching Reading: Elementary examination, test code 5206; or
iv. the Pearson Foundation of Reading examination.
DEED sponsored Science of Reading Courses
Please visit the DEED Professional Development webpage for SoR course updates. You can also visit https://aklearns.org under "events" to look for calendar updates with information.
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Keys to Literacy SoR Courses
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This is the full schedule of available Keys to Literacy courses and registration dates.
Fall 2023 (Registration opens 7/31 and closes 8/11)
Cohort 1: Aug. 14 - Dec. 6, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Wednesdays)
Meetings on 9/6, 9/27, 10/18, 11/15, 12/6
Cohort 2: Aug. 14 - Dec. 7, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Thursdays)
Meetings on 9/7, 9/28, 10/19, 11/16, 12/7
Cohort 3: Aug. 14 - Dec. 9, 8:30-10:30am (Saturdays)
Meetings on 9/9, 9/30, 10/21, 11/18, 12/9
Winter 2023 (Registration opens 11/6 and closes 11/17)
Cohort 1: Nov. 22 - Mar. 13, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Wednesdays)
Meetings on 12/13, 1/10, 1/31, 2/21, and 3/13
Cohort 2: Nov. 22 - Mar. 14, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Thursdays)
Meetings on 12/14, 1/11, 2/1, 2/22, 3/14
Cohort 3: Nov. 22 - Mar. 16, 8:30 - 10:30 am (Saturdays)
Meetings on 12/16, 1/13, 2/3, 2/24, 3/16
Spring 2024 (Registration opens 1/29 and closes 2/9)
Cohort 1: Feb. 12 - May 22, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Wednesdays)
Meetings on 3/6, 3/27, 4/10, 5/1, 5/22
Cohort 2: Feb. 12 - May 23, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Thursdays)
Meetings on 3/7, 3/28, 4/11, 5/2, 5/23
Cohort 3: Feb. 12 - June 1, 8:30 - 10:30 pm (Saturdays)
Meetings on 3/9, 3/30, 4/13, 5/4, 6/1
Summer 2024 (fast tracked course; Registration opens 4/8 and closes 4/19)
Apr. 22 - June 22, 8:30 - 10:30 am (Saturdays)
Meetings on 5/18, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22
Summer 2024 (fast tracked course; Registration opens 5/6 and closes 5/17)
May 20 - June 24, 8:30 - 10:30 am (Mondays and Thursdays)
Meetings on 6/10, 6/13, 6/17, 6,20, 6/24
Visit the Alaska Keys to Literacy website for more information:
https://keystoliteracy.com/alaska-reads-professional-development/
Note: Keys to Literacy satisfies Alaska Reads Act educator qualification requirements for both teachers and leaders. It is open to educators in Grades K-6, but required for K-3. Please make sure you have reviewed your schedule and the DEED Guidelines/Expectations for Courses sheet prior to registering. Full participation and attendance is expected.
NWEA for Administrators SoR Course
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The NWEA for Administrators course opened for registration on May 8, 2023. There are multiple course option dates available. Register NOW!
Applicants should register for their preferred term (fall, winter, or spring).
***RECENT UPDATE- Registration for C1/C2 will be extended until August 11th! There are still some seats available, so don't delay!
Cohorts 1 & 2 will occur August 31–December 14
Cohorts 3 & 4 will occur October 26–February 29
Cohorts 5 & 6 will occur January 9–April 25.
The detailed schedule for virtual seminars can be accessed via the registration link.
https://dpdol.nwea.org/pl/sa/AK/AK_Literacy_LeadershipRegistration_Flyer_FY23.pdf
Note: It is recommended that District Leaders take this course, however Keys to Literacy and LETRS also satisfy Alaska Reads Act educator qualification requirements.
Opportunities for LETRS training!
LETRS for Classroom Educators (Cohort 7) will launch in June, followed by additional cohorts for K-5 teachers, administrators, and early childhood educators in late summer and early fall 2023. To learn more or to apply for an upcoming LETRS training, please visit the Alaska LETRS Overview Guide at bit.ly/ak-letrs.
Introduction to Alaska's Literacy Blueprint!
Registration link
Free English Learner-Related
Professional Learning Workshops
As part of the WIDA Consortium (developer of Alaska’s English Language Proficiency Assessment, ACCESS for ELLs), educators in Alaska have access to a variety of self-paced, online English learner-related professional learning workshops. These cover a variety of topics, including strategies for engaging English learners in various content areas, how to use WIDA’s English Language Development standards framework in the classroom, and more. These workshops are not restricted to EL specialists - any educator with ELs in their classroom (including paraprofessionals, instructional coaches, etc.) are welcome to complete these workshops.
See the WIDA Self-Paced Workshops menu for more information, and to find a workshop(s) that are of interest to you. These workshops are available until August 31, 2023. An updated menu of offerings will be released by WIDA on September 1.
Please Note: A free WIDA Secure Portal is required to access these workshops. Contact your District Test Coordinator to get an account. Alternatively, you can contact WIDA Customer Service at help@wida.us.
WIDA Website: https://wida.wisc.edu/
Questions? Please contact Eli Barsy at eli.barsy@alaska.gov
Mark your calendars for DEED's new event:
Coffee and Content
(starting September 2023; REGISTER NOW!)
Alaska Science of Reading all year? Yes, please!
Once a month, starting in September, join us for Coffee and Content! We have an amazing line up for our first year which will lead right up to AKSOR 2024!
Each reading leader will share a direct to classroom technique or strategy to add to your SOR toolkit (curricular agnostic) for about 15 -20 minutes. After some content, stay for some educator chat! Have questions about reading, choosing interventions, perhaps you are a single teacher in a village school needing a collaboration partner, or does a student just have you stuck and you want a think partner? This will be an open time for conversation, sharing, and problem solving! Sign up link is below!
Dr. Timothy Rasinski will be joining us for September 18th! Be sure to register!
https://forms.gle/uoF5rx8LKm2p5zLV7
Alaska Reading Playbook Recorded Training Guides
Looking for asynchronous guided training in the science of reading? Curious to learn evidence-based strategies in teaching reading? Check out Alaska’s Reading Playbook six recorded training sessions along with facilitator guides and slide decks. This series can be used in staff training or family and community events for anyone supporting young students learning to read.
https://aklearns.org/alaskas-reading-playbook-recorded-training-guides/
Alaska’s Reading Playbook is a guide for educators teaching in Alaska’s unique educational landscape. This playbook combines decades of nationwide research with examples and resources developed by educators in our state. Organized by concepts, you’ll find an introduction to phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and links to valuable resources where you can continue to deepen your knowledge. Each section provides both the science behind the strategies as well as links to videos modeling the teaching strategies.
https://aklearns.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AlaskasReadingPlaybook.ac-1.pdf
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IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION
ALASKA READS ACT REQUIREMENTS
We have come a long way!
Check out the Roadmap to Year One of The Alaska Reads Act!
For more information, visit the Alaska Reads Act Homepage, with links to other pages. You can find a downloadable copy of this Roadmap document here.
District Reading Intervention Plan (K-3 MTSS Plan)
DUE: on or before September 1
It is exciting to report that DEED has already received the K-3 MTSS Plans from six districts. The team has been able to starting reviewing and scoring those documents. Don't delay!
NEW** DEED has a dedicated help/support link for Districts that need assistance regarding their K-3 MTSS plans. Need help? Follow this Link for District DRIP Assistance.
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K-3 Literacy Screener Waiver
DUE: on or before March 1 of each year
Did you know? 96% of districts have chosen to use the state-adopted literacy screener, Amplify’s mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition. If your district would like to utilize a different literacy screener, a waiver will need to be applied for by March 1 of each year.
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K-3 Educator Qualifications Requirement
DUE: July 1, 2025
Long term schedules for both Keys to Literacy for Teachers and NWEA for Leaders are now available to help you in planning for meeting Alaska Reads Act educator qualification requirements. When registering, please assure you can commit to attending all meetings and completing course requirements. For your convenience, DEED has developed an expectations/guidelines sheet with information about the DEED FREE PD courses.
See the new infographic below regarding updates as to how to submit your certificate for verification of meeting Alaska Reads Act Educator Qualifications. Further updates will be provided as new information is received.
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