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For More Information Contact the Public Information Office:
    Richard Vespucci
    Jon Zlock
    609-292-1126

For Release: July 18, 2003

ADVISORY: DOE to Host Early Literacy Conference in August; Conference will Launch the First Round of Professional Development for Reading First Grants’ Educators

In keeping with Governor James E. McGreevey’s chief priority for all children in New Jersey — all children should be able to read at grade level by the end of the third grade — the Department of Education (DOE) will host its first Early Literacy Conference on Wednesday, August 6, and Thursday, August 7.

The conference, which is sponsored by the DOE’s offices of Reading First, Urban Literacy and Early Literacy, is planned as an annual event. This year’s conference will focus on the first round of professional development for educators who have received Reading First funds. The conference will be held at the Somerset Marriott, Holiday Inn and Ukrainian Culture Center in Somerset, NJ.

The conference, “Keeping the Promise: Literacy for ALL Children,” is divided into three themes: Teaching the English as a Second Language Child; Targeting the Urban At-risk Child; and Including the Special Education Population.

Teachers of pre-kindergarten through third grade, English as a Second Language/Bilingual education, and special education are invited to attend, as are reading and literacy coaches, principals and supervisors and Reading First Coordinators. The media are also invited and encouraged to attend.

The registration deadline for educators is July 25, 2003. For the registration form and for more information, please visit www.nj.gov/njded/readfirst.

For further questions, please contact the Department of Education Public Information Office at (609) 292-1126.