A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer comprises a first waveguide layer having formed therein a first multiplexer-demultiplexer, a second multiplexer-demultiplexer, and a plurality of optical switches. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer further comprises a second waveguide layer optically coupled to the first waveguide and having a second effective index of refraction, said second waveguide layer having an optical amplifier formed therein. An input signal is amplified by the optical amplifier and communicated to the first optical multiplexer-demultiplexer where the signal is demultiplexed into a plurality individual wavelength signals. The second optical multiplexer-demultiplexer is adapted to receive a multiplexed add signal and to demultiplex the add signal into component wavelength signals. The individual wavelength signals are received at the optical switches and selectively routed to either an optical detector or toward the first multiplexer-demultiplexer. The individual wavelength signals received at the first multiplexer-demultiplexer are multiplexed into an output signal.