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READ Act Principal/ Administrator Training Office Hours

Thursday, February 29, 2024

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Introductions

Karol Gates

Senior Literacy Specialist, Elementary Literacy and School Readiness

gates_k@cde.state.co.us

Melissa Ahlstrand

Literacy Program Supervisor, Elementary Literacy and School Readiness

gates_k@cde.state.co.us

Anji Gallanos

Director, Elementary Literacy and School Readiness

gallanos_a@cde.state.co.us

Brittney Babb

Literacy Projects Coordinator, Elementary Literacy and School Readiness

babb_b@cde.state.co.us

Scheduled Dates and Times

December 14, 2023: 3-4 p.m.
January 18, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
February 29, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
April 11, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
May 16, 2024: 3-4 p.m.

READ Act Administrator Training Updates Office Hours

Power Points will be posted after each session on the READ Act web page titled:

READ Act Informational Webinars

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Webinar Logistics�Q&A During the Webinar

Organized by agenda topic
As we complete discussion of each topic, there will be designated time for participants to ask questions by raising your hand and unmuting your mic or type questions in the Q and A feature that are related to those specific topics.
We also have a “parking lot” Jamboard where you can place questions that may not be on today’s agenda for a CDE team member to follow up with you directly.

Additionally:

For questions about the evidence-based teacher and/or principal/administrator trainings email: ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us
For READ Act data inquiries email: READActData@cde.state.co.us
For all other questions related to the READ Act email: ReadAct@cde.state.co.us
Pepper Platform Technical Assistance: PepperSupport@pcgus.com

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Session Objectives:

SB 22-004
Definitions of Administrator and Principal
Principal Administrator Training
Resources
FAQs

Happy Leap Day!

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Senate Bill 22-004

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Colorado READ Act

It Is About Prevention

Passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012
Revised in 2019
An additional revision in 2022 added requirements for administrators and interventionists for grades 4-12
Focuses on early literacy development for all students in kindergarten through 3rd grade
Preventative in nature

Scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction
Assessment is targeted and consistent to inform instruction
READ plans
Parent communication monitoring

Ensure every student in Colorado Reaches reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade

Speaker notes:

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act), was passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012
The READ Act focuses on literacy development for kindergarteners through third-graders - especially for students at risk for not reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
The READ Act is preventative in nature:

The READ Act requires that all school districts ensure that students in K-3rd grade receive scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction
The READ Act requires teachers to assess the literacy development of K-3rd grade students in the areas of phonemic awareness; phonics; vocabulary development; and reading fluency, which includes mastery of oral skills and reading comprehension. By assessing students early, teachers are able to identify students who struggle or may struggle with learning to read.
The READ Act also requires the development and implementation of individual intervention plans (READ Plans) for students who are identified as having a significant reading deficiency.
Parent communication is also apart of the READ Act. Under the READ Act, parents and school personnel should make decisions collaboratively throughout the READ Plan implementation process.

Parents should receive regular, ongoing updates from the student’s teacher concerning results of the intervention instruction and the student’s progress in achieving reading competency

To ensure students receive the instruction they need to achieve reading competency by the end of 3rd grade and become lifelong readers, teachers must have a deep understanding of the science of reading and understand the structures of language and the English writing system. We know that teacher knowledge and practice are critical. The legislature also knew this because in 2019 the amended the READ Act to require all K-3rd grade teachers receive training in evidence-based practices in teaching reading.

Again, the READ Act is about prevention.

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Training

1 CCR 301-92

13.01(D): For 2024-25 school year and continuing for each school year thereafter, each local education provider that receives per-pupil intervention money or a grant through the early literacy grant program in any budget year starting with the 2023-24 budget year shall ensure that each principal in a school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through three and each administrator with responsibility that pertains to programs in kindergarten or any of grades one through three successfully completes or has successfully completed evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading.

13.01(D)(1) Any evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading must address the following standards: (full List of Principal Literacy Standards can be found here)

Principal Literacy Standard I: Foundational Knowledge of the Science of Reading (Elements A-C)
Principal Literacy Standard II: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Evaluation (Elements A-E)
Principal Literacy Standard III: Literacy Leadership and Professional Learning (Elements A-B)
Principal Literacy Standard lV: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Elements A-C)

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SB 22-004?

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Definitions: Administrator and Principal

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Definitions

Definition of Administrator and Principal in State Board Rules:

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.

By the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, each principal/administrator that oversees kindergarten through third grades will have received the training.

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Training

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Colorado READ Act�Making Local Decisions

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Colorado READ Act�District Reporting

Districts will be required to include a listing of all principals and administrators that fall under the required coursework definitions with verification that these leaders have successfully completed the evidence-based training designed for school principals/administrators. This data will be shared through the 2024-25 READ Act Teacher Training Completion data collection via the Data Pipeline.

This data collection opens on August 1, 2024.

More information as well as reporting requirements will available in the coming months. Please reach out to the READActData@cde.state.co.us with any specific questions.

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READ Act Progress Monitoring and Reporting Guidance

Use this guide to obtain Pepper progress reports and district reporting tips

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Principal/Administrator Definitions?

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Training

Options

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Training

State Board Rules 1 CCR 301-92 p.19:

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, an abbreviated training must include a minimum of 5 hours.

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Training

The CDE provided administrator training opened on August 1, 2023 through the Public Consulting Group

A team of stakeholders used a “secret shopper” approach to review and give feedback on content August-November, 2023 Stakeholder Process

Participants will need to complete coursework no later than August 1, 2024.

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Colorado READ Act�Principal/Administrator Training

Two Course Options are Available

https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/onlinecdeadministratortraining

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Training Options?

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Resources

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Colorado READ Act�Video Overview

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Colorado READ Act�Course Tips and Guidance

Choose the course option you are interested in below to successfully access and use the CDE course options

20 hour course: Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy for Principals/Administrators-20 hours (PPT)

5 hour course: Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy for Principals/Administrators-5 hours (PPT)

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Colorado READ Act�District/Regional Literacy Leader Toolkit

Toolkit

Principal/Administrator Requirements Infographic

How to determine which leaders should take the coursework

All Office Hours Presentations

Principal Literacy Standards

Grab-n-Go Email Responses

District Reporting Guidance

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Resources?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Question: �Who must complete the Administrator Training?

From the READ Act SB22-004: Each local education provider that receives per-pupil intervention money or a grant through the early literacy grant program in any budget year starting with the 2023-24 budget year shall ensure that each principal in a school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through three and each administrator with responsibility that pertains to programs in kindergarten or any of grades one through three successfully completes or has successfully completed evidence-based training designed for school administrators in the science of reading.

Definition of principal and administrator in State Board Rules:

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.

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.

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Question: �Do Teachers on Special Assignment, Deans, etc.. Need to take the training?

Districts should determine which roles fall under these definitions. If the job title/responsibilities fit any description in the definition, these roles must meet course requirements:

Definition of administrator and principal in State Board Rules:

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.

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Question: �Are Administrators K-3 who work at private schools required to take the READ Act administrator training?

The administrator training provision relates to local education providers who receive READ Act per-pupil dollars. If a school district, or in this case a private school, does not receive READ Act per-pupil dollars, then it is not responsible for complying with the administrator training provision.

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Question: �Is CDE providing a free training to administrators to meet the READ Act administrator training requirement?

Yes- 2 pathway

options are

available

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Question: �What are the deadlines for administrators and principals?

August 1, 2024

Coursework must be completed

August 15, 2024

All applicants must have provided completion evidence into the COOL system
Districts must provide principal/ administrator details in annual report

�

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Question: �How will CDE communicate READ Act administrator training reporting requirements to districts?

CDE will be offering multiple informational webinars to support districts.
It will be the responsibility of the district to communicate and share reporting requirements with their own HR departments.
Visit the link below to register: https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/readactwebinars

Scheduled Dates and Times

December 14, 2023: 3-4 p.m.
January 18, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
February 29, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
April 11, 2024: 3-4 p.m.
May 16, 2024: 3-4 p.m.

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Question: �Is the expectation that districts share information about the READ Act administrator training with administrators or should administrators attend these webinars?

Administrators are more than welcome to attend the READ Act Administrator Training Update webinars; however, it is the responsibility of the district to inform administrators about the READ Act administrator training requirement.

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Question: �Can I use the 20-hour principal/administrator course to keep my teaching license up to date?

No, if an administrator is hoping to keep their teaching license up to date, then we would recommend they register and complete the 45-hour teacher option (or complete any of the other approved course options) and upload course completion evidence into the COOL system in order to add the READ Act Teacher designation to their teaching license. The 20-hour principal course cannot be used to obtain this designation/meet the teaching requirements.

The good news is that once they have the READ Act Teacher designation on their license, they can provide a copy of that designation to request the 5-hour principal/administrator course in lieu of the 20-hour course option. This is the best way to obtain both the READ Act Teacher designation to keep a teaching license up to date as well as obtain the READ Act Administrator designation to keep their principal/administrator license up to date.

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Helpful Tips and Troubleshooting for PCG courses

Choose the course option you are interested in below to successfully access and use the CDE course options

20 hour course: Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy for Principals/Administrators-20 hours (PPT)

5 hour course: Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy for Principals/Administrators-5 hours (PPT)

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Helpful READ Act Links

READ Act Main Page:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy

READ Act Principal/Administrator Web Page

https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/schooladministrators-training

READ Act Statute and State Board Rules:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/readactstatuteandstateboardrules