Contacts

Name: Area: Phone:
Jackie Baldwin Verification Reading Endorsement, Questions and Completions (out of field- anniversary date)
PCSB Reading Competency 2 contact
863-534-0841
Kerryn Bowden Competency Reimbursement Contact 863-647-4099
Lou Ann Bigsby

Reading Endorsement Points Posting
PCSB Reading Competency 2 contact

863-647-4280
Jolene Ahlschwede PCSB Reading Competency 4 contact (FDLRS) 863-647-4258

Background:

In 2001, Governor Jeb Bush signed an Executive Order that established a Just Read, Florida! state-wide reading initiative.  The purpose of this rule is to establish the six (6) competencies required for teacher preparation programs and district in-service plans leading to the Reading Endorsement in Florida. 

In October, 2011, an amendment rule was signed for the purpose of updating the Competencies and Indicators for the Reading Endorsement. The effect is a rule which will reflect the current five (5) competencies and indicators. 

Guiding Principle: "Teachers will understand and teach reading as an ongoing strategic process resulting in students comprehending diverse text. Teachers will understand how writing, listening, and speaking support the teaching of reading, and how family involvement supports student achievement in reading. Teachers will understand that all students have instructional needs and apply the systematic problem solving process:  use data to accurately identify a problem, analyze the problem to determine why it is occurring, design and implement instruction/interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction/interventions. Teachers will understand that the problem solving process is recursive and ongoing, utilized for effective instructional decision making." Just Read Florida

Link to more information: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=6A-4.0163

The Polk County Plan:

Legislation requires that every district in Florida develop a District Add-On Plan to provide the required five (5) competencies (60 points each) that total 300 hours. The Polk County District Reading Endorsement Plan is outlined in the information and links below.

  • Competency 1: Foundations of Reading Instruction
  • Competency 2: Application of Research-Based Practices
  • Competency 3: Foundations of Assessment
  • Competency 4: Foundations and Applications of Differentiated Instruction-(formerly 4/5)
  • Competency 5:  Demonstration of Accomplishment

Information: 

The Polk County District Reading Endorsement Plan is outlined in the information and links below:  

Polk County School Board Reading Endorsement

click to view: PCSB K-12 Reading Endorsement Courses for summer-fall 2013

    • Registration through the PDS Scheduler must be done prior to May 22.

In an effort to make attaining Reading Endorsement a reality for our teachers, the Polk County School Board Professional Development Department along with the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources Department have joined together to offer 2 of the 5 Reading Competencies in-house at no charge to the participants. Competency 2: Application of Research-Based Instructional Practices (FORPD)-- 60 In-service Hours
and Competency 4: Foundations and Applications of Differentiated Instruction -- 60 In-service hours
will be offered beginning July 2013 and will be offered each term.

The courses offer flexibility to work at your convenience during the week, but assignments and discussions will have specific due dates.

Students must complete Reading Competencies 1 – 4 before registering for Reading Competency 5. Competencies 1-4 can be taken in any order.

Courses are free to Polk County Teachers. Must have student contact.

Polk State College Reading Endorsement

Click to view: Polk State College K-12 Reading Endorsement Courses for summer 2013

Welcome! Polk State College is offering affordable online Reading Endorsement Competency courses approved by Just Read, Florida! The online courses are offered in cohort groups.

Each professional development reading course is eight weeks in length. The curriculum addresses the five competencies needed for the Reading Endorsement. Polk State College's online courses provide learner-centered teaching and an online supportive learning environment.

The College's goal is to assure that every person completing the reading competency courses will acquire knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes necessary for success in teaching reading to students in the K-12 schools.

The courses offer flexibility to work at your convenience during the week, but assignments and discussions will have specific due dates.

Students must complete Reading Competencies 1 – 4 before registering for Reading Competency 5. Competencies 1-4 can be taken in any order.

There is a current charge of $250 - $300 per course (depending on the particular course) to all who register for these classes.

NEFEC Reading Endorsement

Click to view: NEFEC Schedule of Competency Classes 2013-2014 (coming soon)

Self-Paced Facilitated Online Reading Endorsement Courses

The North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC) is a self-paced, facilitated Reading Endorsement Program. What that means to you is that you can sign up anytime for high quality courses, you can finish at your own pace, and you will always have access to top-notch facilitators.
These online reading courses are learner-centered, curriculum-focused, and instructor-guided. Each course will satisfy the first four competencies for teachers seeking the Reading Endorsement. All courses meet the latest indicators as outlined by the Florida Department of Education.

Students must complete Reading Competencies 1 – 4 before registering for Reading Competency 5. Competencies 1-4 can be taken in any order.

The fee for these courses is currently $300 per course.