What is the RAPID Initiative? 

(Reading Acceleration Professional Integrated Development)

The NJDOE will be offering free synchronous virtual training in foundational literacy skills to teachers, coaches, specialists, and paraprofessionals in grades K-3.

A separate live-webinar will be offered to district/school leaders to support the implementation of research-based literacy practices. 

What is the goal?

During the educator 7-part series, participates will explore how emergent literacy develops, and how educators can create rich language learning experiences through specific research-based instructional practices. The sessions will focus on the specific instructional practices to develop students’ foundational literacy skills in the following areas:  

• • Part 1: Orthography and Concepts of Print

  • Part 2: Phonological Awareness

  • Part 3: Phonemic Awareness

  • Part 4: Phonics

  • Part 5: Fluency

  • Part 6: Vocabulary 

  • Part 7: Comprehension 

The district/school leader webinar will offer guidance to school and district leaders looking to improve literacy outcomes in grades K-3. During the webinar, the following topics will be addressed:

Introduction to Foundational Literacy; Creating a Culture that Supports Effective Literacy Instruction; Choosing High-Quality Instructional Materials, Assessment, and Professional Learning;  Monitoring Appropriate Instructional Responses

Who is the intended audience?

Educator Training:

• classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, specialists, coaches, interventionists

• 4 hours of training for educators working with students in grades K-3 delivered through synchronous virtual Zoom sessions 

District/School Leader Webinar

• administrators, coaches, curriculum specialists

• 3 hour live-webinar for school leaders delivered through Zoom