Mission Statement

The mission of the Adolescent Literacy Coaching Project is to develop a statewide cadre (network) of literacy coaches to support teachers in grades 4-12 by enhancing content area literacy instruction and practice to promote student literacy proficiency.

 

The Adolescent Literacy Coaching Project (ALCP) is a professional development initiative offered by CCLD in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Kentucky's eight public universities.  House Bill 93 (2005) provided the funds for training of reading and mathematics coaches.  ALCP will provide professional development for teachers of grades 4-12 in content area literacy and coaching strategies.  The eight-day summer academies use the Standards for Middle and High School Literacy Coaches, an International Reading Association (2006) publication, as a framework and focus on the following core content:

  • Literacy coaching and mentoring
  • Strategic planning
  • Effective literacy instruction
  • Content area literacy strategies
  • Assessment in reading/literacy
  • Differentiating in instruction
  • Action research
  • Professional learning communities    

In addition to the summer academy each year, participants attend a content literacy professional development workshop sponsored by KDE. Throughout the academic school year, literacy coaches participate in monthly professional development and coaching networking sessions. Constant access to resources and support is available in a year-round online community. All of this leads to 12 hours graduate credit for the literacy coaches.

Currently there are 29 districts served by 46 literacy coaches working in a total of 52 schools. Each district/school participating has received a mini-grant of no less than $10,000 per year for professional development to implement literacy strategies in the content areas.

What is a Literacy Coach?

A Literacy Coach is different from a Reading Specialist, who works with struggling readers in small groups or one-on-one. A Literacy Coach is charged with working with content area teachers to facilitate their continued learning as professionals a they infuse literacy strategies into the curriculum. Coaches do this through modeling instruction, observing and providing feedback, and leading teacher inquiry groups and professional development sessions. Improving teacher quality can be accomplished through the support of a Literacy Coach, resulting in higher student achievement. 

Coaches should also serve as a liaison between instructional leaders, teachers, and administrators. They serve by assessing the school's literacy needs, by disseminating relevant data, by working with teachers to refine their instructional practices, and by collaborating to create a literacy plan for the entire school.

CCLD and KDE recommend the following qualifications and associated skills for a Literacy Coach:

Qualifications

  • Strong foundation in literacy
  • Strong leadership skills
  • Familiarity with adult learning
  • Familiarity with learners between 4-12 grade
  • Skilled classroom teacher

Associated skills

  • School level planner
  • Advisor to administration
  • Mediator between school, community, and university organizations
  • Researcher
  • Experience in specific content area
  • Strong personal literacy and communication skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Interpersonal skills

ALCP includes an evaluation component that examines literacy coaching as an embedded professional development model.