Massachusetts
Summer 2024 OAPL Courses
AIM Institute for Learning & Research is offering free online literacy training with teacher stipends, that are approved for Mass Literacy Open Access Professional Development (OAPL) courses.
There are 3 Mass Literacy OAPL-approved courses that will be available for Summer 2024 and must be completed by August 31, 2024. These courses are open to PreK-12 educators at Massachusetts public schools and charter schools as well as to higher education faculty or administrators, employed at an approved educator preparation program, whose work relates to literacy. This includes general education teachers, special education teachers, ESL or language support teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, literacy coaches, and other school or district administrators whose work relates to literacy in grades preschool through grade 12.
Massachusetts educators will receive a stipend ONLY if they successfully complete a full course including attendance at online, synchronous Virtual Community of Practice sessions (VCoPs) with AIM facilitators.
Read about the course options below. Review the course pacing guides which include schedules for Virtual Community of Practice sessions, and click the register button to complete your registration request.
Space is limited in these courses to: 50 people for Pathways to Proficient Reading, 50 people for Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary, and 30 people for Specialized Reading Knowledge Bundle: English Learners. AIM will create a waitlist once registration is filled.
PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION FOR OUR OAPL-APPROVED SUMMER COURSES ARE FULL.
If you are interested in AIM summer training opportunities, learn more about our schedule and individual enrollment options here.
Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary
This IDA-accredited comprehensive literacy learning course includes articles, classroom resources, adolescent student profiles, and secondary classroom videos, to address the unique literacy needs of adolescent learners. Virtual Community of Practice sessions with expert AIM facilitators focus on hands-on practice to support classroom implementation so secondary teachers are knowledgeable in their implementation of evidence-based practices in middle and high school classrooms.
- 55 Hours, Stipend $450
- Asynchronous Orientation and Pre-Course Knowledge Inventory Assessment
- 16 Section Pathways to Proficient Reading Course (Click for Detailed Syllabus)
- 6 synchronous Virtual Community of Practice Sessions (VCoPs)
- Pacing Guide offering recommended schedule for coursework completion
- 12 Month Access to the AIM Pathways platform to access, review, and apply materials in the classroom when needed
OAPL Approved Course Options
July 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Cohort 1: Virtual Community of Practice Sessions held weekly on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 am ET from July 17 - August 21.
Cohort 2: Virtual Community of Practice Sessions held weekly on Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 pm ET from July 18 - August 22.
Pathways to Proficient Reading
Pathways to Proficient Reading is designed as a blended learning professional development opportunity introducing the Science of Reading to educators, special educators and reading specialists looking to incorporate evidence-based practices for language and literacy instruction. This course is IDA-accredited.
- 55 Hours, Stipend $450
- Asynchronous Orientation and Pre-Course Knowledge Inventory Assessment
- 17 Section Pathways to Proficient Reading Course (Click for Detailed Syllabus)
- 6 synchronous Virtual Community of Practice Sessions (VCoPs)
- Pacing Guide offering recommended schedule for coursework completion
- 12 Month Access to the AIM Pathways platform to access, review, and apply materials in the classroom when needed
OAPL Approved Course Options
July 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Cohort 1: Virtual Community of Practice Sessions held weekly on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 am ET from July 16 - August 20.
Cohort 2: Virtual Community of Practice Sessions held weekly on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm ET from July 17 - August 21.
Specialized Reading Knowledge: English Learners
Develop the specialized knowledge required to accelerate language and literacy proficiency for English Learners in any program model with immediate instructional applications with this course created in collaboration with literacy researcher Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan.
Specialized Reading Knowledge Bundle: English Learners includes 10 hours of asynchronous online course instruction with exclusive content recorded by Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan, and a wealth of assessment resources, implementation tools, and printables to support immediate use in the classroom. Each of the three module in the course are paired with a 1-hour synchronous community of practice session (VCoP) with an expert AIM facilitator.
- 13 Hours, Stipend $150
- Course Syllabus
- Module 1: Introduction to English Learners: Language & Literacy Development (2 Hours, 1 hour VCOP)
- Module 2: Word Recognition Among English Learners (4 hours, 1 hour VCOP)
- Module 3: Language Comprehension Among English Learners (4 hours, 1 hour VCOP)
Please note that comprehensive structured literacy training is strongly recommended before enrolling in this specialized learning opportunity. If you are new to the science of reading and structured literacy, explore the OAPL-approved AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading courses courses instead to expand your foundational knowledge before diving into this next level of professional learning.
OAPL Approved Course Option
July 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Virtual Community of Practice Sessions held Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm ET on:
- July 17
- July 31
- August 21
Please Note:
If you are categorized as a state employee, you must complete an ethics disclosure before starting a course. This includes if you are an employee in a Commonwealth or Horace Mann charter school, or in a Massachusetts public institution of higher education. Instructions for completing an ethics disclosure are provided on the registration form.
Given the short time period for this training opportunity and the comprehensive training entailed, all participants will be asked to complete an acknowledgement form committing to the online course work and attendance at Virtual Community of Practice sessions and acknowledging that they will not receive stipends if course work is not completed successfully by August 31, 2024.
Stipend Details
Participants must complete a pre- and post-survey assessment for DESE, attend Virtual Community of Practice sessions, AND pass the course.
A stipend will be paid to participants by AIM Institute for Learning & Research once we have confirmed course completion, and after DESE has distributed stipend funds to AIM to be passed on to you. This process may take up to 4 months following the end of the instructional period.
Participants will not receive a stipend until all of these course requirements have been met:
- Complete the full online course
- Attend and participate in Virtual Community of Practice sessions with an AIM facilitator
- Receive a passing score in the course
The AIM Pathways Difference
If you are not eligible for OAPL approved training or discover that enrollment is closed, learn more about AIM's comprehensive AIM Pathways training courses here and explore our short form Steps to Literacy modules and instructional learning bundles.
Interested in instruction for 20 or more educators?
Start a conversation by contacting consulting@aimpa.org.