Virginia's Early Reading Interventions Symposium: April 1 or April 2, 2008

The Department of Education and the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) office at the University of Virginia are pleased to announce Virginia's Early Reading Interventions Symposium a one-day event to be held on two different dates, April 1 or April 2, 2008, both at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia. The goal of this one-day symposium will be to assist school divisions with using data to differentiate reading instruction by students' instructional levels.

The symposium is open to a team of six participants from each division to include the PALS division representative, elementary school principals, and elementary school reading resource teachers. The PALS division representative should coordinate assembling the team to represent the division at the symposium. This includes ensuring that no more than six participants from each division register for the symposium. The PALS division representative should encourage the division's team to attend on the same day.

The symposium will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Attachment A contains an overview of the event.

Registration - The PALS office will manage registration. The deadline for registration is March 14, 2008. Participants may register for the April 1 or 2, 2008, symposium by faxing the registration form, Attachment B, to the PALS office at (434) 982-2793. A confirmation notice will be faxed to each participant.

Lodging - Lodging costs for participants traveling more than 75 miles will be funded by the Department of Education. The cutoff date for room reservations is March 1, 2008. A block of rooms has been reserved for April 1 and 2, 2008, at three hotels. Please reference Department of Education, Virginia's Early Reading Interventions Symposium. It is the responsibility of the participants to make any cancellations of lodging if needed.

For reservations at Doubletree Hotel Charlottesville call (434) 973-2121. Overflow lodging has been arranged at:

Holiday Inn, 1901 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, Virginia. For reservations at the Holiday Inn, call (434) 977-7700.
Best Western Cavalier Inn, 105 N. Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA. For reservations at the Best Western Cavalier Inn, call (434) 296-8111.

Parking Parking costs must be paid by the symposium participants or their school divisions.

Directions Hotel directions may be found as follows:

Doubletree - http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/CHOSHDT-Doubletree-Hotel-Charlottesville-Virginia/index.do;
Holiday Inn http://holidayinn.com; and
Best Western Cavalier Inn -http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=47046.

Authorized Expenses - Mileage costs for participants traveling more than 75 miles will be reimbursed by the Department of Education at current state rates. Materials, a continental breakfast, lunch, and breaks will be provided. Participants are asked to be present for all meal functions.

For registration questions, participants may contact Julie Plumb, PALS office manager, at jhp3d@virginia.edu or (434) 243-8682. For program questions, please contact Ginna Glover, elementary specialist for reading and English at Ginna.Glover@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 786-1997.

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Attachments

a. Symposium Overview - Session Descriptions (PDF)

b. Symposium Registration Form (PDF)