Countywide - Reading Specialist

Morgan County - Regional Literacy Leadership Specialist

Alabama Reading Initiative Local Reading Specialist Job Description & Memorandum Of Understanding/Allocation (Mou/Moa) School Year

This document will be used as notification of the ARI local reading specialist for each school in a district to determine funding allocations and agreement to uphold the parameters outlined. If the ARI local reading specialist no longer serves the position after the completion of this document, the district should notify their Regional Literacy Leadership Specialist of a replacement or that the position is not filled.

If the position remains unfilled, the quarterly allocation may be withheld. A local reading specialist may serve only one school in this role for the district to receive an allocation.

Statements Of Agreement

Your signature at the end of the document indicates your agreement to support and fulfill the following:

• We agree to follow the Alabama Literacy Act with support and guidance from the Alabama Reading Initiative regional specialists and companion documents provided for its implementation.
• We agree each ARI-funded local reading specialist is assigned to one school to support teachers in implementing the SCIENCE OF READING so that student proficiency increases, the achievement gaps close, and all students are reading at or above grade level by the end of the third grade.
• We agree each ARI-funded local reading specialist supports teachers in the implementation of the SCIENCE OF READING by ensuring that literacy instruction is explicit and systematic (including daily teaching routines with extensive opportunities for supported practice, error correction, and feedback), that curricular resources are aligned with a clear scope and sequence for foundational reading skills, and that multisensory and small-group instruction occurs at all tiers of instruction.
• We agree school leaders will clarify the school's assigned level of support for their faculties and the local reading specialists, as well as the ARI's support structure per the Alabama Literacy Act.
• We agree the ARI regional specialists support schools within the LEA according to the frequencies specified in the Alabama Literacy Act for the level of support (FS=daily/weekly on-site, LS1=monthly, LS2=quarterly) and to attend all quarterly trainings hosted by ARI including Coaching Communities/Labs (local reading specialists), Leadership Labs (principals), and Curriculum Virtual Chats (ARI Contacts).
• We agree the ARI regional specialists collaborate with LEA and school leaders, local reading specialists, and teachers to monitor teacher quality and student data at least three times per year. This will include data collection, analysis, and use in instructional decision making.
• We agree the ARI regional specialists collaborate with LEA and school leaders, local reading specialists, and teachers in adjusting instruction to ensure student reading proficiency increases and students are reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade.
• We agree the ARI regional specialists, LEA and school leaders, and local reading specialists function as a Problem-Solving Team (PST) that meet at specified intervals throughout the year to collect, analyze, and report student data per the Alabama Literacy Act.
• We have reviewed the ARI LOCAL READING SPECIALIST JOB DESCRIPTION outlined in this document and the law and agree to adhere to it.
• We have reviewed Alabama's Journey to Reading Success Program and Process Outcomes stated below. We understand that these should already be in place to support the work.

Evaluation And Support:
Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) local reading specialists will be evaluated according to quantitative and qualitative data measures. Summative and formative student assessment data, surveys, and site visit reports will be used in determining local reading specialists' effectiveness and that of the overall program and process effectiveness. This includes results-based coaching cycles and weekly schedules of planning. Support for local reading specialists will be provided by ARI regional literacy specialists according to specifications outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act .

Role Of The Local Reading Specialist:
Per the Alabama Literacy Act, "An Alabama Reading Initiative local reading specialist shall be assigned to provide intensive, targeted professional development for elementary school teachers at one school." ARI local reading specialists may not perform administrative functions such as serving as an evaluator, substitute teacher, assessment coordinator, or school administrators, full-time interventionist, or instructional coach above third grade. The state superintendent of education will certify that each local reading specialist has the qualifications to serve in this capacity based on verification by the local superintendent.

Allocation:
Each Local Education Agency (LEA) is to ensure that each school with any configuration of kindergarten, first grade,…