Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Division of Innovation and Education Excellence, is soliciting proposals for virtual delivery, professional development services in the Science of Reading. Funds available under this procurement must be used to offer reading professional development institutes and learning opportunities for up to 100 Alaskan educators, during the Spring of 2023. All proposals must include a plan for at least 40 hours of progressive professional development. Proposals shall include an option for participants to earn postsecondary credit either as 600-level content coursework or 500-level professional development credit. Providing CEU credit to participants is also acceptable. Proposal must describe how the course will: • Address the content of the Alaska Reads Act Verification endorsement. Defined by Alaska Reads Act, Section 35, AS 14.20.020 (l).4.5.2.2.2. • Be based on the science of teaching reading as articulated in work of the National Reading Panel and subsequent, up-to-date, peer-reviewed, evidence-based research in reading instruction; • Include information on how the brain learns to read and the nature of reading difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, generalized language learning disorders, etc.) as well as special considerations for supporting culturally and linguistically diverse learners with learning to read; • Be aligned to the requirements of the Alaska English Language Arts Standards; • Consist of a minimum of 45 hours of participant contact hours. • Consist of a pre- and post-evaluation methods.
