Kennett board approves LETRS training MOU offering graduate credit or reimbursement for teachers

The Kennett Consolidated School District board on Jan. 12 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kennett Education Association to support bargaining-unit members who complete LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training.

Administrators said LETRS is a deep, evidence-based instructional training program for teachers that is delivered in two volumes. Under the approved MOU, staff who achieve a mastery score of at least 80% for a volume may choose one of two recognitions: six graduate credits for each volume, or monetary reimbursement for six credits at $283 per credit (cited in meeting materials as $1,700 per 6-credit volume). Presenters emphasized the training is not a curriculum for students but an intensive teacher-training program grounded in the science of reading.

District staff clarified the MOU applies to work done outside regular contracted hours and is not part of the collective-bargaining agreement; the board amended a typographical repetition in section K2 during the meeting before approving the MOU by voice vote. Board members noted the time and effort required for LETRS (presenters said roughly 160 hours to complete the training) and framed the MOU as recognition for that work.

The MOU will allow teachers to pursue either graduate credit or reimbursement depending on their professional status and prior coursework. The administration said additional implementation details and any future curriculum-level adoption would follow normal review processes.

The board approved the MOU during the Jan. 12 meeting; no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the public proceedings.