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READ Act School Administrator Training
Announcement
CDE has finalized the search for a vendor and The Public Consulting Group will extend their contract to provide the free Administrator Training modules as well as Teacher Training modules.
Live READ Act Webinars
The Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness will host monthly live informational webinars to provide updates on the READ Act teacher and school administrator trainings.
Learn More and Register
Deadlines
August 1, 2024: evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading must be completed
Evidence-Based Training in Teaching Reading Requirements
All principals and administrators must complete evidenced-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading that addresses the content of the principal literacy standards. School administrators are expected to complete the training without delays so as to not impact the distribution of READ Act per-pupil dollars to the local education agency.
For the 2024-25 budget year and budget years thereafter, districts are required to submit evidence that each principal and each administrator as defined in the rules successfully completed evidence-based training designed for school administrators in in the science of reading.
The evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading must include a minimum of 20 hours. However, for a principal or administrator who has previously completed the CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers, as described in section 13.01(C), the evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading may be abbreviated and must include a minimum of 5 hours. Any evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading must address the following standards
To meet this training requirement, State Board of Education rules require that the evidence-based training in teaching reading must:
- Consist of a minimum of 20 hours (or 5 hours if the school administrator has already completed a CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers);
- Address the content of the principal literacy standards referenced in the state board's Rules for the Administration of The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (Read Act), 1 CCR 301-92, section 13.01(D)(1) (effective December 30, 2022); and
- Include an end of course assessment that school administrators can provide evidence of passing.
Who is Required to Meet the Training Requirements?
Principals and administrators are required to complete evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading.
Definitions:
- Administrator: Any school-based or centrally- or regionally-based employee of an LEP who is responsible for designing, implementing and/or providing professional development on the elementary literacy instructional program for kindergarten or any of grades one through three in any school or LEP in the state, and who is not the principal. This would include an assistant or vice principal of an elementary school. It also includes any employee of the LEP conducting observations of and/or providing coaching to a teacher providing literacy instruction in kindergarten or grades one through three.
- Principal: Any person who is employed as the chief executive officer of any school in the state that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through three.
Below are the options listed in Statute and Rules. More information will be available by Spring 2023. We encourage school administrators to take the Building a Strong Foundation: Developing Early Literacy Skills course on the Pepper platform until such time that another source is available. School administrators that complete the Pepper course can use their certificate of completion as proof of meeting 15 hours of the school administrator training. To learn more about the K-3 teacher training, please visit: K-3 Teacher Evidence-Based Reading Training Requirements.
School administrators need to only complete one of these options to meet the READ Act school administrator training requirements. School administrators need to meet the training requirements only once.
Option 1 - State Board Approved Assessment of Knowledge of Science of Reading
- Administrators and principals who have completed one of the approved evidence-based training options but lack proof of an end of course assessment may take and pass an alternative assessment authorized by the State Board.
More Information to Come
Option 2 - CDE-Approved Program of Preparation or Post-Graduate Course in Teaching Reading or Literacy
For CDE review and approval:
- Administrators and principals may submit evidence of successfully completing a CDE-approved course in an approved program of preparation for principals or administrations, or an individualized alternative principal program, or other alternative principal program, and passed the end of course assessment; or
- Submit evidence of successfully completing a CDE-approved course in a post-graduate degree program in teaching reading or literacy and passed the end of course assessment.
More Information to Come
Option 3 - CDE-Provided Training
- Administrators and principals will have the option to successfully complete a CDE-provided training at no cost.
- A principal or administrator who has previously completed the CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers the evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading may be abbreviated and must include a minimum of 5 hours.
More Information to Come
Option 4 - District- or BOCES-provided Training
- Administrators and principals will have the option to successfully complete a district- or BOCES-provided training approved by the CDE and can check with their district or BOCES whether this option will be available to them.
More Information to Come
Option 5 - Training Program from the CDE Advisory List of Professional Development
- Administrators and principals can successfully complete a training program included on the CDE Advisory List of Professional Development that has been designed to meet the training requirements.
More Information to Come
If you have additional questions about the school administrator training, please contact ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.
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