Council Rock School District allocates $450K for LETRS literacy training for teachers

The Finance Committee meeting held on July 10, 2025, in Pennsylvania focused primarily on the implementation of structured literacy training for educators, in compliance with Act 55. The meeting began with a review of the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training program, which is designed to enhance reading instruction across various educational levels.

The committee reported that last year, approximately 196 teachers and leaders were trained through the Intermediate Unit (IU), and this year, the plan is to train an additional 200 teachers and 25 administrators directly through the Lexia company. The total cost for this training is projected at $450,009.51 for teachers and $27,007.50 for administrators, with the program spanning two years. The training aims to equip educators with the necessary skills to effectively teach reading based on the science of reading, thereby improving literacy instruction from pre-kindergarten through grade three.

In addition to the LETRS training, the committee discussed the purchase of 200 licenses for the Lehi Aspire professional learning program, which focuses on structured literacy and costs $169,980. This program is intended to support continued professional development for teachers who have completed the initial training, extending literacy practices to older students.

The committee also addressed budgetary considerations, noting that while some costs would be paid upfront, they would be recorded as prepaid expenses in the financial system, affecting the budget across two fiscal years.

Questions from committee members highlighted concerns about the necessity and cost of the training, with some expressing that the nearly $500,000 investment seemed substantial, especially given the lack of alternative providers meeting Act 55 requirements. However, it was clarified that while there are other training options, the partnership with Lexia is deemed essential for meeting the state's literacy standards.

Overall, the meeting underscored the commitment to enhancing literacy instruction through structured training, with a focus on ensuring that educators are well-prepared to support students' reading development throughout their educational journey. The committee plans to continue monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of these training programs in the coming years.