COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 167

August 17, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Fall 2007 Reading First Online Teacher Reading Academies: K-3 Teacher Reading Academy and Teachers of English Language Learners Reading Academy

The Department of Education is pleased to announce two Reading First K-3 Online Teacher Reading Academies to be held during the fall of 2007.  The first academy is designed for kindergarten, first-, second-, and third-grade teachers. The second is designed for kindergarten, first-, second-, and third-grade teachers of English language learners. These online Teacher Reading Academies continue the professional development opportunities provided by the state as part of the Reading First grant.

Each online academy includes a series of sessions built on scientifically-based components of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.  The academies will be offered from October 1, 2007, through December 3, 2007.

The Blackboard Learning System will be utilized for this course. All coursework will be done online and participation will consist of online discussions and other activities with the instructor and participants. At the end of the online academy, a certificate of completion will be awarded.

The Online Teacher Reading Academies serve as an alternative to the live K-3 Teacher Reading Academies held across the Commonwealth.  The online 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-12 special education teachers during the fall of 2007.  However, registration priority will be given to schools in divisions that received Reading First grant funding. Enrollment in the Teacher Reading Academy for teachers of English language learners is limited to twenty-five teachers.

Registration will be conducted through the Reading First in Virginia website: http://www.readingfirst.virginia.edu and will begin September 4, 2007, for schools receiving Reading First funding, and September 11, 2007, for all other schools. 

Questions regarding the online Teacher Reading Academies should be directed to Thomas Santangelo, Reading First reading specialist, at Thomas.Santangelo@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-3488.

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