2023 READ Act Professional Development Review Process

Background:

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) focuses on early literacy development for all students kindergarten through third grade and especially for students at risk of not reaching grade level proficiency in reading by the end of third grade. Included in the READ Act is the requirement that the department create an advisory list of evidence-based or scientifically based instructional programming in reading, pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1209.

During each review cycle, new providers have the opportunity to be added to the advisory list. The review is a two part process for vendors to submit professional development programs to be reviewed for inclusion on the Colorado Department of Education READ Act Advisory List. 

The Early Literacy and School Readiness Office READ Act Team conducted reviews of professional development that meets the requirements of SB22-004 to provide evidence-based training in teaching reading for reading interventionists serving grades 4-12 and evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading. 

The 2023 Professional Development Review process began on January 17, 2023.

Process:

The CDE process for the review of professional development materials for inclusion on the READ Act Advisory List of Professional Development follows these steps:

• Stakeholder Feedback on rubrics
• Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply
• Part II - Professional Development Review
• Professional Development must meet the Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply criteria to receive the Part II - Professional Development Review application from CDE.
• Appeal Window
• Professional Development posted on the CDE website

Note: To be included on the  READ Act Advisory List of Professional Development, professional development must be reviewed during the review window.  

Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply

In order for a provider to submit materials to the CDE for full review of professional development, each vendor must have established that the professional development met the eligibility criteria in Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply. Professional development that met the Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply were asked to move forward to the Part II - Professional Development Review and received the appropriate Part II - Professional Development Review application from CDE. Vendors with professional development submissions advancing to Part II - Professional Development Review had to complete and submit the Part II - Professional Development Review application and all necessary materials to be reviewed for consideration for inclusion on the Professional Development Advisory List.  

CDE reviewed professional development that meets the requirements of SB22-004 for two categories:

• Evidence-Based Administrator Training
• Evidence-Based Teacher Training 

Archived Resources: 

• Professional Development Review Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply Webinar Slides (PDF)
• 2023 Evidence-Based Administrator Training Letter of Intent to Apply document (DOCX)
• 2023 Evidence-Based Teacher Training Letter of Intent to Apply document (DOCX)

Part II  - Professional Development Review Application

The applications for Part II - Professional Development Review include instructions to submit materials for the second stage of the professional development review.  As explained in the Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply application, vendors had to explicitly state the location of required components within the submission materials. Only vendors meeting criteria of Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply and Part II - Professional Development Review may be considered for inclusion on the Professional Development Advisory List.

Archived Resources: 

• 2023 Part II - Evidence-Based Administrator Training Requirement Review Application (DOCX)
• 2023 Administrator Training Review Rubric (XLXS)
• 2023 Part II - Evidence-Based Teacher Training Requirement Review Application (DOCX)
• 2023 Teacher Training Review Rubric (XLXS)

Appeal Window

An appeal process has been established in rule pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1209(1)(d). If a publisher’s instructional program is not included on the approved list, the publisher may submit a written appeal to the department no later than 14 days after receiving notification. Grounds for written appeal will be limited to an explanation of why the submissions met the evaluation criteria that was identified and posted by the department.

For questions, please contact READAct@cde.state.co.us.