(LEXINGTON, KY) – Registration is now open for Cohort 5 of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). This statewide initiative equips educators and administrators to strengthen early literacy instruction and consistently implement evidence-based practices that lead to stronger results for students.
In 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly passed the Read to Succeed Act to improve literacy outcomes for all Kentucky students. The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning, through the Division of Early Literacy, has led a focused and coordinated effort to turn that legislation into strong classroom practice across the state.
A child’s ability to read predicts their success in school and beyond. Students need daily access to clear, high-quality instruction, and educators and administrators need the knowledge and tools to deliver it with precision. The Kentucky Reading Academies were built to support that work.
LETRS builds a clear understanding of how students learn to read and how to apply that knowledge during daily instruction. It aligns directly with daily classroom instruction and supports improved student outcomes.
This work is reaching scale across the Commonwealth. Since fall 2022, more than 8,000 Kentucky educators and administrators have participated in LETRS professional learning. The focus is not only on increased participation, but rather on increasing access to high-quality reading instruction and measurable results for students.
Recent statewide data analysis shows clear impact. Schools with more LETRS-trained teachers experienced stronger growth in the share of students reaching the proficient level in reading. From 2023 to 2025, schools above the state average in LETRS participation saw a 4.26% increase in students reaching proficiency, compared to 2.90% in schools below the average. This pattern holds even when accounting for other school factors and prior performance.
The impact is strongest for students who need it most. Access to LETRS-trained teachers also appears to reduce the number of students at the novice level in reading. Therefore, Kentucky is seeing more students moving out of the novice range and toward proficiency. That means more students are reading on grade level and are prepared for future learning. Even modest gains represent thousands of Kentucky students.
This impact is the result of aligned work. Strong knowledge of the science of reading paired with high-quality instructional resources supported by consistent curriculum-based professional learning is changing classroom practice across Kentucky.
The next phase of this work builds on statewide momentum by expanding access to LETRS professional learning and creating additional opportunities for educators and administrators to deepen their literacy expertise.
Join more than 8,000 educators and administrators who have already strengthened their literacy instruction and improved student outcomes. Register for Cohort 5 of LETRS through Aug. 21!
Leave A Comment