Specific Duties

COL 110609 CH. 5A READING SPECIALISTS

(a)Reading Specialist employed by the Department of Education shall be relieved of all regular teaching and administrative responsibilities and shall devote their full time in the performance of the following prioritized responsibilities, which shall be directed toward insuring that pupils attain essential reading skills:

(1)First priority shall be assigned to

(a)supplement the reading instruction in grades 1 through 5 with emphasis on the prevention of reading difficulties,

(b)supplement the reading instruction in grades 6 through 12 with emphasis on the remediation of reading difficulties.

(2)Second priority shall be to provide supplementary, specialized diagnostic services and prescriptive instruction to small groups of pupils to individual pupils in the need of special reading instruction in the primary grades.

(3)Third priority shall be to provide corrective instruction to individuals and small groups of pupils in grades 4 through 6 after the primary needs are met.

(4)The Specialist shall observe the reading instruction of teachers who are not reading specialists and shall provide information and assistance on a one-to-one basis at least once a semester.

(b)No reading specialist shall maintain a case load in excess of forty

(40)pupils at any one time, nor shall the daily case load exceed twenty

(20)pupils receiving individual or small group instruction. Each specialist shall be responsible for providing leadership for the entire school program including providing in- service training, demonstration, and servicing as a reading and language resource specialist for the school.

(c)Adequate time shall be allotted in the specialist's schedule to allow the time needed for diagnostic and prescriptive planning, for staff development and self-improvement.