Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Adolescent Literacy Project (ALP)
Q: What is the Adolescent Literacy Project (ALP)?
A: ALP is a professional development initiative for Kentucky teachers focused on research-based reading and writing instruction, the Kentucky core Academic Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, improving college and career readiness for Kentucky’s secondary students, and reducing adult illiteracy by improving adolescent literacy achievement. It is sponsored by the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD) and is a yearlong graduate-level literacy instruction course. It was formerly called LALLI (Leveraged Adolescent Literacy Project).
Q: How does ALP address the mandates of Senate Bill 1 (2009)?
A: ALP incorporates the Kentucky Academic Core Standards into the core curriculum of the course and emphasizes college and career readiness and other aspects of SB 1, Next Generation Learning, and Unbridled Learning.
Q: How is it resourced?
A: ALP provides funding and coordination to bolster the resources and expertise already in place at each of Kentucky’s eight state universities to address the specific needs and strengths of the respective service regions. In addition, it brings together the collaborating faculty and teacher leaders for statewide coordination with legislated
initiatives and directives from the Kentucky Department of Education and the Council for Postsecondary Education.
Q: When does it take place?
A: ALP consists of a summer institute, follow-up meetings (after school, during planning time or on a Saturday) during the school year (dates selected based on the schedules of participants) and attendance at the Share Fair usually held in the Spring in Louisville or Lexington, KY (one Saturday in March or April).
Q: Where does it take place?
A: ALP is held at a location within the service region of the state universities. (Please see last page for specific site locations)
Q: What contents and grade level does ALP target?
A: ALP targets teachers of grades 5 – 12, any content area or specialization. Note: this could vary from site to site
Q: Is there a stipend?
A: Each teacher has the choice to receive a stipend or graduate credit through the university.
Q: Who leads the institute?
A: A member of the literacy faculty at each of the state universities serves as the director, with additional instructional support provided by other educators.
Q: How do I apply?
A: Teachers must fill out an application (attached). In addition to the application, teachers must secure the recommendation of their principal. If attending as a cohort from a school, all materials may be submitted as a single application.
Q: How many applicants are selected at each site?
A: Up to 20 teachers are accepted at each university ALP site. Some university sites require a team of teachers from a school.
Q: When will I be notified if I am selected for ALP?
A: Teachers will be contacted by letter or email if they have been selected for ALP.
Q: Do I receive books and materials for the course?
A: Teachers will receive educational books and resources at the summer institute.
Q: When do I complete the institute?
A: Teachers will complete the institute at the end of the spring semester the year after they have attended the summer institute and completed follow-up work in their classrooms.
Q: What are the requirements?
A: As part of their full participation each day of the institute, teachers will develop instructional materials and assessments and complete this work throughout the grant period. Teachers will complete a literacy unit or action plan that they will implement in their classroom during the school year. They will also develop a roundtable session describing the implementation of the literacy unit or action plan to be presented at a statewide Share Fair in the spring. As well, teachers will submit a reflection paper about ALP explaining changes that have occurred in their instructional practices.
Q: Will the instructors visit my classroom?
A: The ALP directors will make a coaching visit during the year to discuss the implementation of the literacy unit and provide support to the teacher in a variety of ways.
Q: Will I have the opportunity to network with other teachers during the year?
A: Teachers will network with other teachers from across the state at the spring Share Fair. They also can communicate with other teachers in the program through an online sources.
Q: Will I have access to literacy resources?
A: In addition to all the materials and books that teachers receive during ALP, many other resources are available on the CCLD website: kentuckyliteracy.org.