Teaching and learning staff asked the Kennett Consolidated School District Curriculum Committee on Dec. 15 to consider a multi‑year plan to implement LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) as the district’s approach to structured literacy compliance and teacher development.

Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders and the district team told the committee LETRS focuses on developing teacher expertise rather than selling a boxed program. "LETRS is not a program. It is investing in your teachers and investing in the quality of instruction that they are able to provide," a presenter said as the team outlined goals to build instructional coherence and alignment with the science of reading.

Presenters described four implementation options with five‑year cost projections: Option 1 (build internal capacity and certify district facilitators) estimated at about $399,615; Option 2 (contract Lexia to deliver all professional development) at about $1.2 million; Option 3 (train staff to facilitate while adding additional facilitators) at about $609,000; and Option 4 (hybrid of district facilitators with Lexia trainers) at about $595,440. The district is already training a cohort of 22 staff in volumes 1 and 2 this year as the foundation for several options.

Option details included cohort sizes, facilitator certification requirements, material and certification fees, and timing: staff proposed training 22 key staff this year, rolling facilitation training across 2–3 years, and starting K–2 teacher training in year 3 under internal models. Presenters noted Lexia caps workshop groups at about 22 participants, which affects per‑group costs for fully contracted delivery.

Board members questioned costs, rollout speed, applicability to secondary students and English learners, and how facilitator candidates will be selected and retained. Presenters said LETRS training includes strategies for ELD and special‑education staff and that interventionists and secondary staff have been included in the district cohort. On facilitator selection, staff described internal recruitment plus volunteer interest and cited LETRS certification thresholds (volume 1 and 2 completion and performance criteria) as a gate for facilitator eligibility.

The committee did not select a final option at the meeting. Presenters said staff will convene reading specialists and principals to assess capacity and return with a recommended route and funding plan.