Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Auburn Washburn outlines plan to meet Kansas Seal of Literacy requirement
Summary
District staff described two pathways (LETRS training or the Praxis exam) to meet Senate Bill 438 requirements and said the state will cover course and exam costs; about 77 educators have started or completed LETRS coursework.
District staff briefed the Auburn Washburn Board of Education on the Kansas Seal of Literacy requirement adopted under state law and described district plans to support teachers in meeting the new credential.
Dr. Desoto and Morgan Brown told the board the seal is an indicator placed on an educator’s license after they complete training in the science of reading, a set of research-based practices that includes systematic, explicit instruction and the five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. The district said the state’s legislative action (Senate Bill 438) and the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy drove the requirement.
Morgan Brown outlined two district pathways for teachers to earn the seal: local LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) cohorts run by district-certified LETRS facilitators and preparation support for the Praxis exam. Brown said the district will start a LETRS cohort in the fall that covers eight units and two tests over two years and that the state will fund LETRS course access and reimburse Praxis exam fees for eligible teachers and administrators. Brown reported approximately 77 educators have completed or are in process of completing LETRS coursework through district or state offerings.
Board members asked about timeline and accommodations. Staff said Kansas educators must hold the micro-credential by July 1, 2028, to renew an elementary teaching license; educators whose renewal date falls later have corresponding additional time before they must comply. Staff said the Board of Regents and state institutions of higher education will offer science-of-reading coursework and that graduates beginning in 2025 may present the seal to hiring districts if they complete the new pathway.
The district repeatedly emphasized it intends to cover coordination, communication and local facilitation so staff have access to LETRS cohorts and Praxis-prep sessions. Staff noted the state is currently covering the core costs and described a communications plan that includes a web page, professional development council notices and building-level messaging.
