Iowa Department of Education

The target audience for the Academies is local school teams that include the teachers, principals, and central office personnel from Iowa’s school districts and AEA consultants who participate with a specific school team.

The purposes of the Academies are:

• To increase student achievement through quality professional development.
• To improve local district access to qualified trainers in high demand content areas (Reading, Mathematics and Science).
• To increase the number of teachers and consultants with expertise in specific academic content areas and skills in delivering professional development opportunities.
• To support and compliment existing Teacher Quality Program efforts. This initiative is designed to support the AEA and DE capacity building efforts by adding to the pool of available trainers in Iowa.
• To support LEA implementation of District Career Development Plan.

The objectives are:

• Participants acquire knowledge and skills in instructional strategies that are supported by scientifically based research.
• Participants practice strategies in the classroom, collect data on student results, and study their own implementation.
• Participants attend all training sessions. Training usually begins in the summer and is distributed through the school year (either 4 or 5 days during the summer, 3 follow-up dates during the school year, and intermittent ICN sessions).

The content offered in the academies is selected to assist local districts in providing training to implement District Career Development Plans. The content is determined by analyzing statewide student achievement data and District Career Development Plans across the state.

The benefits to participants include:

• Participants are learning new skills and refining existing skills that will improve their practice as teachers, consultants, and teacher-trainers.
• Participants are collaborating with other educators locally and across the state.
• Participants received a stipend for their engagement in the training.
• Training materials and assessment instruments were provided at no cost to schools.
• Teachers have the option of receiving renewal or graduate credit and the opportunity to earn credit for additional endorsements.

 Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI)

Contact

Richard Bartosh, Consultant
515-281-0368
richard.bartosh@iowa.gov

Concept Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI)

Question Answer Relationship (QAR)

Second Chance Reading (SCR)