Professional Learning
The Arizona Department of Education’s English Language Arts team provides a variety of professional learning opportunities across the K-12 space.
ON-DEMAND KNOWLEDGE BLOCKS
The Arizona Department of Education’s English Language Arts team has created the Arizona Reading Fundamentals OnDemand Academy. This academy offers schools a variety of free knowledge blocks on demand. Schools are encouraged to utilize these resources as a part of a comprehensive professional learning plan that is data-driven, sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, and instructionally focused. Each participant will need to register for each knowledge block separately. Once registered, a link to our Blackboard LMS will be available in your APLD-registered courses.
Testimonials
Please check out testimonials from recent participants in the OnDemand Systemic Reading Fundamentals Knowledge Blocks.
K-5 Literacy Endorsement ADE Ondemand Courses
Enrollment is closed permanently for the Pathways to Proficient Reading with Pathways to Structured Literacy, K-5, offered through APLD/ADEConnect, as of 12/19/2025. Please see the list under approved trainings above for other options. We will have another option for a free course available in late summer of 2026. Information on that course and how to enroll will be provided here as soon as it is available.
Science of Teaching and Reading and the Reading Rope knowledge blocks are no longer a part of the endorsement series. Those hours can still apply towards recertification. They are still available for participation and registration for educators who wish to learn more about these topics.
Systemic Reading Fundamentals
These Systemic Reading Fundamentals Knowledge blocks are available for registration and participation throughout the year. These knowledge blocks do not fulfill the K-5 literacy endorsement or Dyslexia Training Designee requirements.
| Knowledge blocks | Button to Register |
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Elementary Multi-Tiered System of Support Companion text: Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, PreK-6, Second Edition edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D., & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. Current edition, Second Edition, 2020. Order your text today! |
Registration |
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Evidence-based Decision Making Companion text: Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, PreK-6, Second Edition edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D., & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. Current edition, Second Edition, 2020. Order your text today! |
Registration |
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Science of Teaching and Reading Companion text: Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, PreK-6, Second Edition edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D., & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. Current edition, Second Edition, 2020. Order your text today! and The Reading League Free Download (or) Bound book: Science of Reading: Defining Guide |
Secondary Reading Fundamentals
These Secondary Reading Fundamentals Knowledge blocks are available for registration and participation throughout the year. These knowledge blocks do not fulfill the K-5 literacy endorsement or Dyslexia Training Designee requirements.
| Knowledge Blocks | Button to Register |
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Secondary Multi-Tiered System of Support Companion text: Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, Grades 6-12, by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D. Order your text today! |
Registration |
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Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Companion text: Disciplinary Literacy Inquiry and Instruction, by Jacy Ippolito, Christina L. Dobbs, and Megin Charner-Laird. |
Registration coming soon |
Dyslexia Reading Fundamentals
These Dyslexia Reading Fundamentals Knowledge blocks are available for registration and participation throughout the year. This knowledge block does not fulfill the K-5 literacy endorsement requirements.
**Important Note: As part of A.R.S. § 15-211, every school must have at least one teacher who has training related to dyslexia. To fulfill this requirement, teachers must complete an approved course that fulfills three criteria. One of the required sections is "Understanding and Recognizing Dyslexia." The ELA team at the Arizona Department of Education has created a free course to provide a more cost-efficient option. It is available as part of the Arizona Reading Fundamentals OnDemand Academy.
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Understanding and Recognizing Dyslexia Companion text: Conquering Dyslexia: A Guide to Early Detection and Intervention for Teachers and Families, Professional Development Book, by Jan Hasbrouck. Order your text today! |
Registration |
ELA TEAM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
K-12 Literacy Office Hours
K-12 Literacy Office Hours
Join the ADE ELA Team and literacy leaders from around the state for an opportunity to collaborate, share, and learn about reading and literacy information. This year, you don't have to register in advance. Just click the picture to the left to join the Microsoft Teams meeting every 2nd Thursday of the month at 11 AM MST. Visit the Padlet for more information!
ELA Book Studies
ELA Book Studies
Coming in School Year 2026-2027
Come join us for our current professional learning book studies!
General Info for our book studies:
- Virtual book chats take place via Zoom.
- All participants must register in the APLD system to receive credit; each session is offered individually.
- All participants who register in APLD, read their chapter(s), and attend the book study will be given 2 hours of PD credit.
- Please share with your colleagues!
Use the search term "book study" to narrow down your search.
Previous Book Studies:
- All Secondary ELA book study Padlets can be found on the Secondary ELA webpage under the "Secondary ELA Book Study" blue bar
- Literacy Foundations for English Learners Padlet
- Science of Reading Instruction for English Language Learners Padlet
- Building the Highway from Phonological Awareness to Decoding Padlet
- The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades Padlet
- Speech to Print Book Study
Note: Book studies do not qualify toward hours for the Dyslexia Training Designee or K-5 Literacy Endorsement.
Arizona Literacy Road Show
Arizona Literacy Road Show 2026 - Coming to a city near you!
The Arizona Department of Education English Language Arts team will be back on the road with the Arizona Literacy Road Show this June! Join us at a location near you!
Dates/Locations: (click your selected location to go to the registration for it)
• NAU - Flagstaff - June 18
• U of A - Tucson - June 23
• ASU - Tempe - June 25
Arizona Literacy Road Show 2025 - thank you!
Thank you to the over 300 literacy educators from across the state who joined the ADE English Language Arts team at the Arizona Literacy Road Show this past June in Tempe, Coolidge, Yuma, and Flagstaff! These educators learned all about evidence-based practices for tier 1 assessment, instruction, and progress monitoring across K-12. If you were unable to join us, please check out the Resource Padlet, recap video, and testimonials below!
- Resources Padlet
- 2025 Recap Video
- Testimonials:
All ELA Professional Learning
All ELA Professional Learning
For all current ELA and literacy-related professional learning opportunities, including K-12 Literacy Office Hours, book studies, webinars, and On-Demand Academies, use the search term "K12-AS-ELA."
District PD requests for school year 2025-2026:
Thank you to everyone who invited us out to your district this year to provide professional learning! We enjoyed spending time with you and your educators!
Our requests for 2025-2026 have closed. We will share-out information for next year by July.
ADE Professional Learning and Development (APLD) Support
Our Event Management System (EMS) has been upgraded to a new system called ADE Professional Learning and Development (APLD). The old Event Management System is available as read-only; you will not be able to register for courses. All of your previous certificates are available in the new Event Management System. APLD - Academic Standards
Support - For questions regarding registration, certificates, accessing courses, etc., please refer to our APLD FAQ page
Other PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Early Childhood Professional Learning
ECE Professional Learning Opportunities - The Arizona Department of Education Early Childhood Education (ECE) division offers a comprehensive list of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on-demand) professional learning opportunities.
OELAS Professional Learning
Professional Learning for Instructional Leaders and Educators of ELs - The Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS) division offers a variety of self-paced courses, conferences, and meetings.
Exceptional Student Services Professional Learning
Exceptional Student Services Literacy Professional Learning - The Professional Learning and Sustainability team at the Arizona Department of Education's Exceptional Student Services division offers a variety of literacy professional learning opportunities.
Sign up for ELA Listserv:
To stay on top of the latest Arizona ELA news, join our listserv!
**The views and opinions expressed in any third-party resource do not necessarily reflect those of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and do not imply an endorsement by ADE.