FOR-PD Update

February 2004

Latest FOR-PD Numbers

6008 students
269 sections
63 participating districts
5 participating universities

FOR-PD Cost Effectiveness

Just how cost-effective is the FOR-PD project? One way to compare our cost effectiveness is to look at what it would cost if the only option available were to take the FOR-PD course or its equivalent through a state university.

If the FOR-PD course were only available for graduate credit, the cost to the 2244 teachers who have already completed the course would be over $1,413,720 in tuition alone (2244 teachers X the current state university graduate tuition rate of $630)! Add to that the cost of commuting, parking on campus, babysitters, textbook, and a weekly cup of coffee, and you'll agree that online staff development is not only cost efficient for the state, but is enticing for teachers and an effective way to deliver quality, standards-based content to the many Florida educators who are eager to improve teaching and learning.

The proof is in the fact that they are giving up their nights and weekends to learn (and competing with the rest of the family for online time at home!). And thanks to our collaborating universities, graduate credit is still an option for those seeking advanced degrees. FOR-PD is a win, win, win for everyone!!!

Kudos to the Florida Department of Education and Just Read! Florida for funding the FOR-PD project and continuing to offer the FOR-PD course FREE for professional development points to all Florida certified teachers!

Governor Bush Unveils Middle School Reform Proposal

Governor Jeb Bush today announced new legislation and increased "Just Read, Florida!" funding geared toward adding focus and rigor to middle school academics. The Middle Grades Reform Act, sponsored by Senator Lee Constantine and Representative Dennis K. Baxley, uses reading as the foundation to increase student achievement in all subject areas. The Governor made the announcement at Carver Middle School where he was joined by the bill's sponsors and Chairman of the State Board of Education Phil Handy, and Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Ron Blocker.

"While our middle school students are showing academic improvement, almost half of Florida's 6th, 7th, and 8th graders still do not read on grade level. The Middle Grades Reform Act provides our middle school students the tools they need to succeed. With the help of the legislature, this year we will drive the success of" Just Read, Florida!" into our middle schools," said Governor Bush.

The Governor's call for $46.4 million for "Just Read, Florida!" is an increase of $21.4 million. Under the proposal, $13 million of that funding would be used to put a reading coach in 240 of Florida's lowest performing middle schools next year. These coaches provide on-site professional development for teachers and help them teach reading effectively. Currently there are 448 reading coaches in elementary schools throughout the state.

"Our emphasis on reading in the early grades has begun to pay off with Florida being the only state to make significant improvement in 4th grade reading this year," said Chairman Handy. "This legislation will allow us to use proven methods to facilitate similar success at all grade levels."

Among the provisions of the Middle Grades Reform Act:

By the 2008-09 school year, all reading/language arts programs offered in middle grades must be research based proven effective programs. The State Board of Education will consult with reading specialists and the "Just Read, Florida!" office to identify reading and language arts programs that are research-based proven effective programs.
Beginning with the 2004-05 school year, each public school with a middle grade where fewer than 75% of the students are reading on grade level or above must develop a Rigorous Reading Requirement as the primary component of its school improvement plan. Based upon last year's FCAT data, this may effect between 400-450 schools that serve 6th, 7th and/or 8th grade students.
The State Board of Education will conduct a Comprehensive Reform Study in consultation with school board members, superintendents, school administrators, parents, teachers and students, reviewing academic expectations, best practices to improve reading, strategies that focus on improving academic success for low-performing students, attendance policies and strategies, teacher quality, school leadership and parental and community involvement to determine all areas of middle grade education that need improvement.
Beginning in 2004-05, a Personalized Middle School Success Plan will be developed and implemented for each entering 6th grade student who scores below level 3 in Reading on the FCAT administration. The Personalized Success Plan will be based upon academic information and a student's overall strengths and weaknesses. The plan will be developed in collaboration with the student, parent, and teacher and must include specific academic, data driven strategies to enable students to be successful in middle school and be ready for rigorous high school curriculum.

Add-On Reading Endorsement Q & A

The following are some questions and answers from the "Just Read! Florida" website regarding the Add-on Reading Endorsement:

Who are required to successfully complete the Reading Add-on Endorsement? Elementary, and/or Secondary instructional personnel? What is to be their status by July 2006?

As stated in the August 4, 2003, memo from Chancellor Warford, any teacher teaching a reading course at the secondary level will be required to have either the K-12 reading endorsement or K-12 reading certification. Additionally, any teacher teaching elementary reading courses must have one of the following qualifications: K-12 reading endorsement, K-12 reading certification, or elementary education certification. Federal law requirements of NCLB for teacher quality must be met by the end of the 2005-2006 school year – specifically, June 30, 2006. This requirement is reflected in Florida’s Course Code Directory for teacher qualifications of reading courses with the date of July 1, 2006.

Will the DOE publish a list of university courses and identify which competency each one addresses?

Yes, the Department is pursuing such an effort. However, due to the complexity of the process and the volume of courses to be analyzed, it is anticipated that this undertaking will take a considerable amount of time. Once the analysis is completed, though, the identified reading courses will be posted on the appropriate Websites.

Additionally, the "Just Read, Florida!" office has sponsored several university projects of reading course offerings specifically for the purpose of supporting district reading endorsement add-on programs in order for teachers to earn the reading endorsement and for teacher recertification. These projects are:

Florida Online Reading Professional Development (FOR-PD) through the University of Central Florida (UCF). Identified as RED5147: Developmental Reading, this three-hour university online course aligns with competency 2 of the reading endorsement and is provided on an ongoing basis for Florida teachers to complete at their own pace.
Summer Institute & Reading Coursework through Florida State University (FSU) includes a series of reading course offerings that align with the reading endorsement competencies. Once final approval of the course descriptions for the next round of offerings are completed, the Department will post information about specific course numbers and titles, their competency alignment, and each of the course locations throughout the state.

Does successful completion of the K-12 Reading Add-on Certification program indicate that a teacher is qualified to work with students at all grade levels?

Yes. The K-12 reading endorsement certification indicates that the teacher is equipped to work effectively with struggling readers of various age groups.

Pasco County Add-on Reading Endorsement Program Approved

Pasco County has had their Add-on Reading Endorsement program OFFICIALLY approved by the DOE. We’re especially pleased that they included the FOR-PD course as Competency 2 in their Add-on Reading Endorsement Program!

A model add-on program for the reading endorsement for districts to view is available through the "Just Read! Florida" website.

UCF's Reading Certificate program

Application deadline for UCF's Reading Certificate program is April 15.

The aim of the certificate program is to help prepare in-service classroom teachers in the teaching of reading through a straightforward, concise presentation of essential knowledge of performance areas with an emphasis on research-based strategies for teaching reading. The courses in this program will satisfy the new legislation recently passed by the state of Florida. Classroom teachers completing the proposed certificate program will be able to add the new reading endorsement to their teaching certificate.

Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted.

FOR-PD Facilitator Wins "Making it Happen" Award

Chris Yahn (Monroe County), a FOR-PD facilitator and member of the FOR-PD Advisory Board, is the honored recipient of this year's prestigious "Making It Happen" Award. The award is a nationally-recognized educational program highlighting the dramatic role educators play in the learning process using quality technology in the classroom. The program identifies educational technology leaders around the country and rewards those individuals for their commitment and innovation. The coveted "pink jacket" was awarded prior to the Florida Educational Technology Conference by industry representatives.

Eileen Pracek, also on the FOR-PD Advisory Board, was last year's pink jacket winner.

FOR-PD Notable Quotables

Karen Zaremba, Spanish teacher and FOR-PD participant from Sarasota County:

"I really love this course. It has made a big change in my life. Because of it, I have joined the literacy committee at our school."

Barbara McG, Business Ed Teacher and FOR-PD participant from Pinellas County:

"I'm sorry it's [the FOR-PD course] over! I enjoyed it very much and learned quite a bit. As you know Business Teachers teach Business English, and subjects of that nature, but I knew very little about the reading aspect. I would recommend FOR-PD to anyone."

Vicky Ambler, a FOR-PD facilitator and Reading Coach in Orange County:

"I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying this facilitator position. I am so glad I got involved with FOR-PD. I am really internalizing the content of these lessons, and have felt an increased sense of confidence in my role as reading coach for Orange County schools. All of the students in my online class are doing a superb job with their discussions. I am sharing ideas with teachers at my school from their postings. This experience has raised my motivation level as an educator. I thought I would be plowing through discussions as they piled up on the board. But, I find myself coming home each day and looking forward to seeing who has posted and I am staying right on top of them. Please consider assigning another group of students to me anytime you have enough for another class. I am 'addicted' to this :)!!!!!"

Do you have comments or news you'd like to share with us about the FOR-PD project or course? Please send them to us at forpd@mail.ucf.edu