Approve Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Coconino County, through the Coconino County Education Services Agency, and Cochise County School Superintendent for the Literacy Capacity Building Grant, in the amount of $260,056.03, effective January 1, 2023 through May 9, 2027.

Reading is the foundational skill for all future learning, and being able to read by the end of third grade is a crucial milestone in a child’s future academic success. Research shows that a child’s third grade reading level is a pretty strong predictor of how well a student performs in high school, whether or not they graduate, and if they go on to college. Only 38% of the third graders in Cochise can read at grade level (https://www.arizonafuture.org/progress-meters/education/), statewide only 41% of third grade students can read at grade level; while the state goal is 72% (https://www.arizonafuture.org/progress-meters/education/third-grade-reading/).
The Cochise County Superintendent of Schools, Cochise Education Service Agency (CochisESA) has been awarded $260,056.30 to support K-5 teachers in Cochise County in obtaining the K-5 Literacy Endorsement required by the State of Arizona. The approved proposal included providing training, Train the Trainer opportunities, teacher stipends to teachers in Cochise County.
The Coconino County Education Service Agency (CCESA) is the lead applicant and fiscal agent for the Literacy Capacity Building Proposal. The Yavapai County Education Service Agency (YCESA) and the Cochise Education Service Agency (CochisESA) are collaborators on the development and implementation of the project.

Arizona’s Move on When Reading and dyslexia legislation requires the K-5 Literacy Endorsement for teachers in grades K-5 to participate in additional training in reading instruction and intervention and a passing score on the Foundations of Reading Assessment by Pearson (Legislation: A.R.S §15-501.1 K-5 Endorsement). Under the rules adopted by the Arizona Board of Education to conform with this statute, the Literacy, K-5 endorsement requires:

• A. Three semester hours of college coursework or 45 clock hours of approved trainings in the science of reading instruction, including systematic phonics instruction; and
• B. Three semester hours of college coursework or 45 clock hours of approved training in reading instruction, including assessments, instructional practices, and interventions to improve student reading proficiency for struggling readers, including students with the characteristics of dyslexia

Pre-Service teachers will have until 2025 to secure the endorsement, while certificated in-service educators have until 2028 to complete the requirements.
To address students' needs in relation to literacy and learning loss CochisESA proposes to create a Cadre of Trainer of Trainers in multiple Science of Reading (SoR) ADE-approved vendors. These trainers will collaborate to provide training and implementation support for SoR evidence-based practices, develop educators' networks and Cadres of trained teachers, and facilitate system-wide adoption of evidence-based literacy practices through on-site coaching to promote system-wide change in how literacy needs are addressed. This project will develop schools' change capacity by targeting the whole school community, including site administrators, teachers, and non-certified educators.
 
Rationale

• The few vendors who provide “approved training” by the Arizona Department of Education are costly. For example, approved LTRS Science of Reading training (see https://www.lexialearning.com/arizona-letrs) requires level 1 and level 2 at $900.00 per course.
• Allows us to decrease the cost of training for our schools and achieve sustainability so our schools are not vendor dependent
• Supports teacher retention
• The train the trainer model is a way to increase capacity, provide needed services and facilitate a systems-wide shift towards evidence-based practices to support student

Goals

• Goal 1 – By September 2024, increase the capacity of CochisESA to advance educational opportunities for all children in Arizona by providing educators with professional learning opportunities aligned to ADE’s mission for improving school outcomes related to equity in the classroom
• Goal 2 – By September 2024, develop the capacity of CochisESA to build ESA staff and school systems’ capacities to support K-5 administrators in making effective data-based decisions to have systemic impact on student literacy achievement of K-5 students who have experienced learning loss due to COVID-19.
• Goal 3 – By September 2024, develop the capacity of CochisESA to build ESA staff and school systems’ capacity to support K-5 administrators in making effective data-based decisions to have a systemic impact on student literacy achievement of K-5 students who have experienced learning loss due to COVID-19.
• Goal 4 – By September 2024, develop the capacity of CochiseESA to build ESA staff and school systems’ capacities to support K-5 non-certified educational support staff in assisting teachers with closing the literacy achievement gap among key student subgroups in Arizona to make a significant improvement in the literacy and language of K-5 students who have experienced learning loss during COVID-19.
• Goal 5 – By September 2024, participating educators and administrators will actively engage in the change process by building a collaborative culture and professional community of learners through active participation in the science of reading-aligned activities that promote and provide for a learning-enriched literacy environment focused on collaboration, challenging discourse, and a supportive environment.

 
Through educator, administrator, and non-certified staff professional development, coaching, and learning communities that support the implementation of SoR Evidence-based practices.  Cochise ESA will create a Cadre (consisting of County ESA staff and school staff) of Sor TOTs to support educators in implementing SoR using evidence-based instruction and assessment. CochisESA staff and the Cadre of SoR TOTs will provide SoR evidence-based professional development and coaching to K-5 teachers to increase their capacity to implement evidence-based instruction, as well as how to differentiate instruction to meet the literacy needs of all students in the classroom through ongoing, evidenced-based training and support in effective literacy instruction.
 

The first step is to contract a literacy trainer to become Science of Reading (SOR) certified by the Arizona Department of Education, then form and facilitate a cadre of educators to become SOR Trainer of Trainers (TOT) to ensure sustainability beyond the grant cycle. 

This is a mandated endorsement (Science of Reading) now being required by the AZ Department of Education for K-5 teachers. This grant provides funding for teachers to obtain it. Without this funding, it will come out of pocket. 

Please sign 2 copies of the IGA and return to the Superintendent's Office.