Record enrollment for NHED’s partnership with Lexia LETRS

CONCORD, NH — In less than a month, more than 1,030 individuals have registered to participate in literacy instruction training through the New Hampshire Department of Education’s partnership with Lexia Learning System. 

This represents the largest number of initial registrants for a statewide rollout, and organizers anticipate this number will double in the next month. 

“We know how vitally important strong literacy skills are for our youth. It is encouraging to see such high registration numbers for this professional learning program, and I am thrilled that so many New Hampshire residents, educators and administrators are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to empower children through reading,” said Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education. 

To date, 1,032 individuals have registered for LEXIA’s LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) suite of programs, at no cost, through this New Hampshire initiative. This includes 752 elementary educators, 138 early childhood educators and 142 school administrators.

• LETRS for Early Childhood Educators is an 18-week program that offers deep knowledge of literacy instruction for the youngest learners; this is best suited for parents, caregivers and those working in an early childhood setting. 
• LETRS for Elementary Educators is an 18-month program that provides teachers with essential knowledge to master the fundamentals of literacy instruction required to transform student learning. 
• LETRS for Administrators is an 18-week program that provides participants with capacity to create systems and structures in their schools and districts to achieve high levels of academic performance and growth in literacy. 

These courses of study are expected to begin in November, with registration available for numerous sessions until the fall of 2024. Programs are available to New Hampshire residents engaged with young and emerging readers, including parents, caregivers, grandparents, early childhood and elementary educators, administrators and others working with children. Sessions will also be available in the summer of 2023 for administrators and early childhood educators. Many questions about the program are answered on this FAQ document.

“Teachers are the most important factor in student success, and teaching reading requires a deep understanding of the science behind how we learn to read, why we spell the way we do, or how phonemic awareness and phonics lead to comprehension. Without this understanding, teachers are often left feeling ill prepared,” said Nick Gaehde, Lexia Learning President. “We are honored that more than 1,000 educators across New Hampshire are literally Leaning into Literacy by signing up to partake in the Lexia LETRS professional learning program …”

Educators may also choose to earn graduate or transcript credit. Each LETRS course can be counted toward one, three-credit graduate level degree, for a total of 12 graduate credits through the American College of Education. Learn more at lexialearning.com.