COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 18

January 28, 2005

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	2005 Reading First Teacher Reading Academies

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the Reading First Teacher Reading Academies to be held during the summer of 2005. These Teacher Reading Academies continue the professional development opportunities provided by the state as part of the Reading First grant. The academies are based on materials produced by the University of Texas, Center for Reading and Language Arts, and modified for use in Virginia by the University of Virginias Curry School of Education.

Each academy includes a series of sessions built on scientifically-based components of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, and will be offered in a four-day configuration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The Teacher Reading Academies are open to all Virginia administrators; teachers of kindergarten, first, second and third grades; as well as K-3 English as a second language (ESL) teachers, Title I teachers, and K-3 special education teachers during the summer of 2005. However, registration priority will be given to schools in divisions that received Reading First grant funding. School divisions are encouraged to send entire grade-level teams to the academies.

Registration will be conducted through each academy site and will begin April 4, 2005, for schools receiving Reading First funding, and April 25, 2005, for all schools. The dates, locations, and registration information for the 2005 summer academies are located in the attachment.

Questions regarding the Teacher Reading Academies should be directed to Patience Scott, reading specialist, at (804) 225-3203 or e-mail: patience.scott@doe.virginia.gov.

JLD/PES/pk

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf018a.pdf