The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking reviewers to read and evaluate applications from potential vendors received through a Request for Information (RFI) for dyslexia-related training opportunities.
Oregon’s new dyslexia legislation, SB 612, requires that the Department annually develop a list of training opportunities related to dyslexia and that the trainings on the list satisfy the following requirements:
- comply with the knowledge and practice standards of an international organization on dyslexia;
- enable the teacher to understand and recognize dyslexia; and
- enable the teacher to implement instruction that is systematic, explicit and evidence-based to meet the educational needs of students with dyslexia.
SB 612 states that each school district must ensure that at least one K-5 teacher in each K-5 public school in Oregon receives training related to dyslexia that meets the above requirements by January 1, 2018. Trainings selected through the review process will be included on the annual list developed by the Department to be released to districts beginning in April of 2017 and to be posted through March of 2018.
Qualifications: The Department is seeking reviewers with expertise in the areas of scientifically-based beginning reading instruction and dyslexia who serve in roles that are not limited to, but includes:
- PK-12 public school district or building administrator
- PK-12 public school teacher or specialist
- PK-12 private school staff
- charter school staff
- Education Service District employee
- parent
- college or university faculty
- community-based organization representative
- educational consultant
Requirements: Reviewers will independently read, score, and provide written comments for applications submitted to the Oregon Department of Education under the Request for Information (RFI) for dyslexia-related training opportunities. Expectations for selected reviewers are:
- The application review will be conducted electronically from the reviewer’s location.
- The reviewer must have access to the internet, a phone, and a printer, and have the ability to interact within a web-based environment.
- The reviewer must be able to participate in an orientation session via an online Go To Meeting prior to evaluating the applications. The reviewer will participate in a panel (of 3) and will read and score approximately 3-5 applications over the period of time the RFI is posted (March – July, 2017). Reviewers will have two weeks to independently review and score applications. No more than 2 applications will be assigned to each reviewer over the period of two weeks.
- The reviewer must use a scoring rubric to provide detailed, objective, constructive, and timely written reviews for each criterion for each assigned application. These written reviews are made public, though the reviewer’s identity is not revealed.
- The reviewer must be able to participate in a consensus meeting via an online Go To Meeting following the review to collaborate with the panel on quality feedback and final scores.
- The reviews will be used to identify training opportunities to be included on the Department’s annual list of dyslexia-related training opportunities.
How to Apply: If you would like to be considered as a reviewer for dyslexia-related training opportunities, please complete the Application for Reviewers, including the Certification Regarding Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement, and submit by March 29, 2017.
Conflict of Interest: If you are an individual who provides dyslexia-related training, you will not be eligible to serve as a reviewer. As a reviewer, you will have a conflict of interest if:
- You helped prepare an application, regardless of financial interest in the success of failure of that application.
- You have agreed to serve, or you have been offered a position, as an employee, advisor, or consultant on an applicant’s training.
- Your personal financial interests will be affected by the outcome of the competition, which would include any family members, employees, or associates of the vendor applying to be on the training list.
More Information: For more information on serving as a reviewer, contact carrie.thomas-beck@state.or.us .
Application for Reviewers
Click here for more information on SB 612 and the Department’s work on implementation of the requirements.
