17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 5A READING SPECIALISTS CHAPTER 5A READING SPECIALISTS 2009 NOTE: P.L. 28-045:10 (June 6, 2005) changed the name of the Department of Education to the Guam Public School System. P.L. 30-050:2 (July 14, 2009) reverted the name of the Guam Public School System to the Department of Education. References to Guam Public School System have been changed to Department of Education pursuant to P.L. 30-050:3

§ 5A101. Legislative Intent

§ 5A102. Rules & Regulations

§ 5A103. Reading Specialists Teacher Appointment

§ 5A104. Selection & Administration of Written Examination

§ 5A105. Status of Employment

§ 5A106. Specific Duties

§ 5A107. Salary of Specialist Teachers

§ 5A108. System of Priorities

§ 5A109. Computation of Salaries

§ 5A110. Effective Date

SOURCE: Chapter 5A was added by P.L. 18-21:1

§ 5A101. Legislative Intent

It is the intent of the Legislature that the reading instruction program provided for in this Chapter be directed to the prevention of, and correction of, reading difficulties at the earliest possible time in the educational career of the pupil and that the reading program in the public schools be of high quality. The Legislature recognizes that early development of reading skills and the early correction of reading difficulties enhance the opportunity of each pupil for success in school and for success in a career upon leaving school. To achieve this purpose, it will be necessary to provide means to employ specialists trained in the teaching of reading. The Legislature intends that the provisions of this Chapter be administered to provide funds and services to those schools which are identified by the latest available norm-based tests to have the greatest need for additional reading instruction

The Legislature does not intend to pre-empt the Department of Education from establishing and maintaining any other special reading program which otherwise complies with the law. The Legislature recognizes that federal programs may be utilized to supplement the Reading Specialists program

COL 110609 1 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 5A READING SPECIALISTS § 5A102. Rules and Regulations

The Department of Education shall adopt and promulgate all rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Adjudication Act necessary to the effective administration of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, those specifically required to be adopted by particular provisions of this Chapter

§ 5A103. Reading Specialists Teacher Appointment

The Department of Education, in order to provide reading instruction under the provisions of this Chapter, may appoint any school teacher to a reading specialist position if the appointee has met the following minimum requirements: (a) Completion of three (3) years as a teacher in any grade and receipt of a 'Reading Specialist Instructor Certificate' displaying an advanced knowledge of both oral and written forms in the reading, writing, and speaking of English

(b) Successful completion of the required college or university courses for Reading Specialists with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in each of the courses or their equivalent

§ 5A104. Selection and Administration of Written Examination

For the purpose of issuing a 'Reading Specialist Instructor Certificate' the Department of Education shall designate a written examination to be administered to each person seeking the position of reading specialist. The examination shall be designed to test the knowledge of the nominee concerning the various approaches and techniques of reading which have been determined by competent authority to be most effective in diagnostic and prescriptive instruction for meeting the needs of young pupils. The examination shall be administered on a territory-wide basis annually. For this purpose the Board may select an examination prepared by a competent and recognized local or national organization or agency

§ 5A105. Status of Employment

Persons employed by the Department of Education as reading specialist under this Chapter shall be considered as classroom teachers for the purpose of any law dealing with the permanent status of classified employees employed by the Department

§ 5A106. Specific Duties

COL 110609 2 17 GCA EDUCATION 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

§ 5A107. Salary of Specialist Teacher

To provide an incentive and remuneration to teachers who attain specialist certification in the critical area of reading, the annual salary of a specialist teacher, employed as such by the Department for a school year, shall be One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) more than that otherwise payable to that teacher under that teacher's regular classified position step COL 110609 3 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 5A READING SPECIALISTS and range

Such additional sum shall be paid by the Department of Education in a lump sum payment to the reading specialists teacher no later than June 30 of each year, and the warrant on which such payment is made shall clearly identify the purpose for which the payment is being made with words to the effect of: 'Special Stipend for Guam Basic Reading Program' appearing on the face of the warrant. Partial lump sum payments for specialists reading teachers employed for a portion of the school year shall be paid no later than thirty (30) days after the specialists leave the employment of the Department

§ 5A108. System of Priorities

The Department of Education shall establish a system of priorities designed to carry out the intent of the Legislature as stated in § 5A130 of this Chapter. The system shall be designed to give priority assistance to schools in the following order: (1) First, those schools which, evidenced by the most recently available nationally based tests, have the greatest need for additional reading instruction

(2) Second, those schools that participated in the program in the previous year, which continue to be eligible, so that they will not be required to reduce program below the level of the preceding year

(3) Third, to those eligible school who apply for new programs in order of the percentage of their pupils who have reading difficulties

§ 5A109. Computation of Salaries

The allowance for salaries for reading specialists to the Department shall be a separate classification called Specialist Teachers for budgetary purposes. The Department of Education shall compute the annual allowance for Specialist Teachers by multiplying the number of reading specialists to be employed by the Department by an amount equivalent to the average salary of school teachers in Guam during the previous fiscal year, plus the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per teacher. The Deparment of Education may recommend a maximum of fifty (50) reading specialists, thirty (30) assigned to elementary schools, and twenty (20) assigned to middle and high schools

§ 5A110. Effective Date

COL 110609 4 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 5A READING SPECIALISTS This Chapter shall be effective at the beginning of School Year 1986- 87

COL 110609 5