The Kansas State Board of Education is providing statewide access to LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning for educators in prekindergarten through third grade to individuals entering the early education field. Offered by Lexia® Learning, a Cambium Learning® Group company, the LETRS professional learning experience provides the research, depth of knowledge, and abilities for teaching literacy skills to a wide range of students in grades PreK-5.
The Kansas State Board of Education will support the literacy-focused professional learning program over the next three years. “The state’s goal is to address literacy learning gaps that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lexia Learning President, Nick Gaehde. “We will be helping Kansas educators accelerate early literacy learning so students who suffered from the disruption to their learning can quickly recover.”
LETRS is a comprehensive professional learning solution that deepens educator knowledge and expertise in the Science of Reading. The program provides practical support with tools that are available 24/7—online and print. LETRS also offers in-person consulting services and ongoing support throughout the school year with strategies specific to instruction. Educators can choose from the following foundational literacy professional learning programs:
· LETRS for Early Childhood Educators
· LETRS for Elementary
“We chose LETRS because it’s been proven to accelerate teacher knowledge and, as a result, increase student reading proficiency and scores,” said Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education. “Studies have shown that educators that completed LETRS improved their overall teacher knowledge, competencies and saw an increase in student engagement. Those results make us certain that it can do the same for Kansas educators and students.”
“LETRS is designed to fill the language structure and language development gaps left by many teacher-preparation courses,” said Gaehde. “We are looking forward to working with Kansas educators as they help their students establish a firm foundation in literacy.”
# # #
Lexia Learning, a Cambium Learning® Group company, is the structured literacy expert. For over 35 years, the company has focused solely on literacy, and today, provides a full spectrum of solutions for both students and teachers. With robust offerings for differentiated instruction, personalized learning, assessment, and professional learning, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com.