ARI AT WORK
Alabama Reading Initiative: Our Mission
We are committed to supporting the development of high-quality instruction that will prepare students with the literacy skills needed to meet or exceed grade-level standards.
In order to accomplish this, the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) support for local education agencies (LEAs) currently serves over 900 K-12 schools across the state. The ARI provides data-driven professional development that is aligned with scientifically based reading research. Through this professional development, the ARI empowers school leadership teams with the content knowledge, skills, and strategies to be highly effective instructional leaders and practitioners.
The ARI provides professional development and coaching in a manner consistent with the Alabama Professional Development Standards and the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards.
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SREB: Alabama - A Decade of Progress Early Grades · The percentage of fourth-graders who scored at or above the NAEP Basic level in reading increased 15 points since 2003. · The gap between black and white students narrowed by 4 points since 2003 - to 31 points in 2011. The gap for Hispanic students widened to 29 points since 2007. · The gap between students from low-income families and all other students narrowed by 5 points since 2003. Middle Grades · The percentage of eighth-graders who scored at or above the NAEP Basic level in reading increased 4 points since 2003. · The gap between black and white students remained the same since 2003 - 29 points. The gap for Hispanic students widened to 24 points since 2007. · The gap between students from low-income families and all other students narrowed by 1 point since 2003. SREB: Alabama - A Decade of Progress
Dr. Tommy Bice, State Superintendent, said, "This fact-based study confirms that we are moving in the right direction, and with a collaborative plan to leverage what works across our state, we can reach our goal of every child a graduate and every graduate prepared for college, work, and adulthood in the 21st century." Alabama Education News. August 2012-Issue 1 |
Calendar of Events for 2012-2013
The various sections of the Alabama State Department of Education are working together to provide professional development to system-level teams made up of members chosen by the LEA to represent them. The chart below includes the regions and dates of those meetings. These will provide an opportunity for team members to continue to learn about College- and Career-Ready Standards implementation and resources. They will be prepared to communicate and turn around information within the LEA.
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Region |
Meeting #1 |
Meeting #2 |
Meeting #3 |
Meeting #4 |
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UNA |
September 11 |
November 15 |
February 14 |
May 2 |
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Athens |
September 12 |
November 14 |
February 13 |
May 1 |
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AAMU/UAH |
September 13 |
November 13 |
February 12 |
April 30 |
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UAB |
September 11 |
November 13 |
February 12 |
April 30 |
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UM |
September 14 |
November 15 |
February 14 |
May 2 |
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JSU |
September 13 |
November 15 |
February 14 |
May 1 & May 2 |
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WCCS/ASU |
September 11 |
November 13 |
February 12 |
April 30 |
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TROY |
September 11 |
November 13 |
February 12 |
April 30, May 1, & May 2 |
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USA |
September 12 |
November 14 |
February 13 |
May 1 |
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UA/UWA |
September 12 |
November 14 |
February 13 |
May 1 |
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AU |
September 13 |
November 15 |
February 14 |
May 2 |
 | Sharing the Learning - Literacy and Justice Professional |
| Teacher Planning Session - Beverly Brown and Teachers - Auburn University (AU) Region |
 | Instruction Matters Professional Development Session - ARI Coaches Learning Together - University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) Region |
| Professional Development - Keitha Segrest and Teachers - Jacksonville State University (JSU) Region |
| Teachers Attending ARI Professional Development - University of South Alabama (USA) Region |
 | Deputy Superintendent, Sherrill Parris, reads to children. |
| Pre-Service Professional Development - Daphne Cook and Pre-Service Teachers - Troy University Region |
| Woodland Forrest Staff - Discovering Alabama Model School - University of Alabama (UA) Region |
ARI Current News
Regional staff is providing requested professional development to schools and LEAs