Science of Reading Licensure Requirements

The Science of Reading is a body of research that explains how the brain learns to read and why certain instructional practices are more effective than others. It emphasizes evidence‑based approaches to ensure all students become strong, confident readers.

Beginning July 1, 2028, Kansas veteran educators serving in the positions listed below will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the science of reading to renew their professional license.

This knowledge may be demonstrated by completing state-approved training or passing a state-approved literacy exam.

Elementary Reading/English Language Arts teacher.
Elementary History Government and Social Studies teacher.
Elementary Special Education teacher.
Elementary School Psychologist.
Elementary Reading Specialist.
Elementary Administrator.

As it pertains to licensure, elementary indicates grades PreK-6. When elementary is referenced grades PreK-6 are implied. Educators who have completed this requirement will receive an embossed Seal of Literacy on their State Board of Education issued license.

Kansas school districts are expected to ensure that educators participating in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling^® (LETRS^®) complete the full professional learning program, including the Facilitated Training Days and required Bridge to Practice activities. Although educators may qualify for the Seal of Literacy after successfully completing the required post-assessments, earning the seal does not replace or eliminate the remaining program requirements.

Bridge to Practice is an essential part of LETRS^®. It gives educators the opportunity to apply their learning in the classroom, reflect on their practice and strengthen literacy instruction for students. Superintendents and district leaders should ensure that participants are given the time and support needed to complete these activities during the designated professional learning days.

Kansas has made a significant investment in providing LETRS^® at no cost to educators. Honoring that investment means completing the entire program and translating that learning into stronger literacy instruction for Kansas students.

Science of Reading Licensure FAQ

What are Approved Literacy Training Programs?

LETRS.

The Kansas State Department of Education will continue to cover the cost of districts to complete this training through July 1, 2026, or until the funds are expended. Training will be provided through service centers and the training of Local Certified Facilitators (LCFs) to provide training in districts.
Educators who do not complete the course within the license period will not receive additional state funds to cover the cost of LETRS.
1. Educators who fail to complete the course during the license period purchased by the state may purchase an extension with Lexia.
2. Extensions currently cost $99.00 per year. Educators or districts will be required to pay extension costs out of pocket and can do so by emailing LLETRSorders@lexialearning.com.

LETRS Post-Test Resets

KSDE and Lexia are committed to helping educators demonstrate their knowledge from the LETRS course. They are working together to help educators who scored below 80% on any of the LETRS Post-Tests. To help us navigate how best to help you please select the linked statement below that describes when you took the Post-Test and complete the appropriate form.
To retake a post-test you must have an active LETRS course license. If yours has expired you will have to purchase a $99 extension prior to it being reset. Information will be emailed to you if you have an expired license.
1. Post-Test Completed Prior to July 1, 2025.
2. Post-Test Completed July 1, 2025 or later.

Keys to Literacy.

Kansas State Department of Education will not provide funds to cover the cost of this training.
Educators will pay the cost out of pocket unless a district provides another funding option.

AIM Pathways.

Kansas State Department of Education will not provide funds to cover the cost of this training.
Educators will pay the cost out of pocket unless a district provides another funding option.

Foundations of the Science of Reading Course.

This training is provided by The Kansas Board or Regents (KBOR). Please click here to go to KBOR's Foundations of The Science of Reading Course page.
Successful completion of coursework and an 85% or higher on the course summative assessment is required to meet the Seal of Literacy requirements with this course.

Structured Literacy Intervention Specialist - Alphabetic Phonics (Cox) – Introduction.

The training is provided by the Phillips Fundamental Learning Center (PFLC).
Educators will pay the cost out of pocket unless a district provides another funding option.
To verify completion, completers must provide a certificate of completion that specifies that “all course work and observations” have been completed.
Participants who have taken the course between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024, must contact the PFLC registrar for confirmation they meet requirements for the Seal of Literacy.

Graduate Credits available through Friends University, Fort Hays State University or Kansas State University.

R.E.A.D. Redefined.

To access trainings proved by R.E.A.D. Redefined, click here readredefined.com/districttraining to go to R.E.A.D. Redefined’s website.
Educators will pay the cost out of pocket unless a district provides another funding option.
Approved Training provided by R.E.A.D. Redefined are:
1. Literacy Redefined.
2. R.E.A.D. Redefined.
To verify completion of Literacy Redefined, the completed Literacy Redefined checklist must be submitted.
To verify completion of R.E.A.D. Redefined, the completed R.E.A.D. Redefined checklist must be submitted.
Graduate Credits available through Newman University.

What are the State Approved Exams?

Upon approval by the State Board of Education an exam(s) to measure knowledge of the science of reading will be established.

Passing scores will be approved by the State Board of Education.

Exam providers.

ETS.

Elementary Education: Teaching Reading (7002)

Passing score (143).
Test cost - $85.

Test score submission.

If test is physically taken in the State of Kansas, Teacher Licensure will receive test results automatically.
If test is taken outside of Kansas, enter in (7270) as a recipient code. Teacher Licensure will receive the score report.
Test score verification-
1. Teacher Licensure will query ETS’ test database periodically to identify test completers and add the Seal of Literacy as appropriate.
2. Educators may submit an added endorsement by testing application to have the Seal of Literacy added to a license.
  1. The added endorsement application is a work around that allows the educator to inform Teacher Licensure a test score is available in the ETS system.
  2. An endorsement will not be added to the license. The Seal of Literacy will be added to the license.

ETS.

Reading Specialist (5302)

Passing score (165)
Test cost - $156
Test score submission.
1. If test is physically taken in the State of Kansas, Teacher Licensure will receive test results automatically.
2. If test is taken outside of Kansas, enter in (7270) as a recipient code. Teacher Licensure will receive the score report.
Test score verification-
1. Teacher Licensure will query ETS’ test database periodically to identify test completers and add the Seal of Literacy as appropriate.
2. An endorsement will not be added to the license if you only take the Reading Specialist exam. The Seal of Literacy will be added to the license.
If you have completed a Reading Specialist program, then you must submit an initial school specialist application to be licensed as a Reading Specialist.

Pearson.

Foundations of Reading exam (890)

Passing score (240).
Test cost- $139.

Center for Effective Reading Instruction.

Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI)

Passing score (500).
Test cost - $165
- $15 processing fee.
- $150 test fee.

How do I verify training completion?

LETRS.

The licensure team will coordinate with LETRS providers to include Lexia, TASN, Service Centers and District Local Certified Facilitators to verify educators completed training and achieved 80% or higher on the required post-tests to meet Seal of Literacy eligibility.
The licensure team will utilize verified completion data to add Seals of Literacy to licenses upon completion of training. This will be the primary method to add the Seal of Literacy, and the Seal of Literacy will be added as soon as possible after training completion.
1. The licensure team will not wait until July 1, 2028, to add Seals of Literacy to licenses.
2. As soon as the licensure system is updated to add the Seal of Literacy, the licensure team will move forward with adding Seals of Literacy to licenses.
Individuals who are not part of a specific district cohort may provide a copy of their LETRS transcript as verification to meet Seal of Literacy requirements.
1. The transcript must be added to the educator’s Professional Development transcript.
2. The educator will select to renew her/his license based on professional development points.
3. The educator will select the appropriate school district to upload transcript to her/his license application.
4. The district will upload the professional development transcript to include the LETRS transcript to the educator’s application.
5. Teacher Licensure will verify the educator qualifies for the Seal of Literacy upon receipt of the completed application.
  1. If qualified for the Seal of Literacy, the licensure team will process the professional license renewal and add the Seal of Literacy to the license.
If educator does not qualify for the Seal of Literacy, and the educator was required to complete the training or pass an exam, her/his professional license will not be renewed.
1. A standard substitute license will be issued.
2. Upon completion of state-approved training or passing a state-approved exam, the educator will re-apply to reinstate her/his professional license.

AIM Pathways.

The licensure team will coordinate with AIM Pathways verify district cohorts who completed training and achieved 80% or higher on the required post-tests to meet Seal of Literacy eligibility.
Individuals who are not part of a specific district cohort may provide a copy of their Pathways to Proficient Reading to include Secondary or Leadership transcript as verification to meet Seal of Literacy requirements.
1. The transcript must be added to the educator’s Professional Development transcript.
2. The educator will select to renew her/his license based on professional development points.
3. The educator will select the appropriate school district to upload transcript to her/his license application.
4. The district will upload the professional development transcript to include the Pathways to Proficient reading transcript to the educator’s application.
5. Teacher Licensure will verify the educator qualifies for the Seal of Literacy upon receipt of the completed application.
  1. If qualified for the Seal of Literacy, the licensure team will process the professional license renewal and add the Seal of Literacy to the license.
If educator does not qualify for the Seal of Literacy, and the educator was required to complete the training or pass an exam, her/his professional license will not be renewed.
1. A standard substitute license will be issued.
2. Upon completion of state-approved training or passing a state-approved exam, the educator will re-apply to reinstate her/his professional license.

Keys to Literacy.

The licensure team will coordinate with Keys to Beginning Reading to verify district cohorts who completed training and received the Certificate of Completion to meet Seal of Literacy eligibility.
Individuals who are not part of a specific district cohort may provide a copy of their Keys to Beginning Reading transcript or Certificate of Completion as verification to meet Seal of Literacy requirements.
1. The transcript must be added to the educator’s Professional Development transcript.
2. The educator will select to renew her/his license based on professional development points.
3. The educator will select the appropriate school district to upload transcript to her/his license application.
4. The district will upload the professional development transcript to include the Pathways to Proficient reading transcript to the educator’s application.
5. Teacher Licensure will verify the educator qualifies for the Seal of Literacy upon receipt of the completed application.
  1. If qualified for the Seal of Literacy, the licensure team will process the professional license renewal and add the Seal of Literacy to the license.
If educator does not qualify for the Seal of Literacy, and the educator was required to complete the training or pass an exam, her/his professional license will not be renewed.
1. A standard substitute license will be issued.
2. Upon completion of state-approved training or passing a state-approved exam, the educator will re-apply to reinstate her/his professional license.

Are educators who teach in middle school and secondary buildings required to complete training or pass an exam to renew a license?

Who can take the training and who can receive the Seal of Literacy on their license?

If I choose the option to pass a state approved exam to demonstrate my knowledge of the Science of Reading, how do I access them?

If I completed a Kansas state approved Science of Reading training, am I required to complete KSDE's Dyslexia modules?

Do recent graduates of elementary preparation programs require science of reading training for licensure renewal?

I teach Art, Physical Education/Health Education, Music, World Language or another subject not listed on the required list. Do I need to complete training or pass an exam?

How will the training be tracked?

What literacy training is needed for different assignments?

LETRS for Elementary Educators.

Any educator may complete the LETRS for Elementary Educators and qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
1. Must complete the most current version of the training.
The training is required for the following assignments:
1. Elementary K-6 Reading, English Language Arts, and or History Government Social Studies teachers.
2. Elementary School Psychologists.
3. Elementary Reading Specialists.
4. Elementary K-6 special education teachers.
The LETRS for Elementary Educators training is an option for the following educators.
1. Elementary Administrators.
2. Early Childhood PreK teachers.
3. Any educator who wishes to qualify for a Seal of Literacy.
4. Educators must score 80% or above on Volume I and Volume 2 Post-Tests in order to meet training requirements.
  1. Each volume consists of four units.
  2. Educators may score less than 80% on individual session and unit exams, but both Volume I and 2 Post-Test scores must be 80% or better.

LETRS for Administrators.

Is an option for elementary administrators to complete in lieu of the LETRS for Elementary Educators.
1. Must complete the most current version of the training.
Any administrator at any level may complete the training to qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
Educators serving in positions outside of the administration, will not qualify for the Seal of Literacy if this training is completed.
Educators must score 80% or better on the Post-test to meet training requirements.

LETRS for Early Childhood Educators.

Is an option for PreK educators to complete in lieu of the LETRS for Elementary Educators.
1. Must complete the most current version of the training.
Educators serving in grades above PreK will not qualify for the Seal of Literacy if this training is completed.
Educators must score 80% or better on the Post-test to meet training requirements.

AIM Pathways.

Pathways to Proficient Reading is available for all educators regardless of assignment to complete and qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
1. The Kansas State Department of Education will not pay for educators nor districts to complete this training.
2. Educators must score 80% or better on the Pathways to Proficient Reading Post-Course Knowledge Inventory.
Pathways to Proficient Reading Secondary is an optional training available for Middle and High School educators.
1. The training is optional for Middle and High School educators, but if they wish to earn a Seal of Literacy, this training is an option.
2. Elementary educators who complete this training will not qualify for the Seal of Literacy. Elementary educators must complete the Pathways to Proficient Reading to earn the Seal of Literacy.
3. Educators must score 80% or better on the Pathways to Proficient Reading Secondary Post-Course Knowledge Inventory to qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
Pathways to Literacy Leadership.
1. The training is an option for all administrators.
2. Only educators serving in administrator positions upon completion of training qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
3. Any educator not assigned to an administrator position who completes this training will not qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
4. Educators must score 80% or better on the Pathways to Literacy Post-Course Knowledge Inventory to qualify for the Seal of Literacy.

Keys to Literacy.

Keys to Beginning Reading is available for all educators regardless of assignment to complete and qualify for the Seal of Literacy.
The Kansas State Department of Education will not pay for educators nor districts to complete this training.
Educators must receive a Certificate of Completion to qualify for a Seal of Literacy.

I am an out of state educator moving to Kansas, will I be required to complete the training to qualify for a license?

For more information, contact:

Licensure
(785) 296-2288

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