DALLAS, Jan. 7, 2020. Cambium Learning Group's Voyager Sopris Learning today announced that LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), the company's landmark professional learning that provides educators with the background, depth of knowledge, and tools to teach language and literacy skills to every student, has earned accreditation from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
"Everything we do at Cambium Learning supports our belief in teachers," said John Campbell, CEO, Cambium Learning Group. "That's why delivering high-quality, high-impact professional learning like LETRS is a priority for us. As such, we're proud that LETRS is aligned to the IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading."
Authored by literacy luminaries Dr. Louisa C. Moats and Dr. Carol A. Tolman, LETRS for elementary school teachers is backed by more than 30 years of evidence-based, scientific research and more than a decade of proven success.
"Earning this accreditation from IDA is a great honor for us because we so consciously tried to align LETRS with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading," Dr. Moats said. "We now have independent validation that we succeeded. I am prouder than ever of the depth, substance and quality of LETRS."
Throughout the accreditation process, LETRS had to meet the rigorous standards set by the IDA. Topics covered include knowledge of the structure of language, knowledge of dyslexia and other learning disorders, and understanding of how to teach young readers the basics of phonics and word recognition.
According to the IDA, "when an educator preparation program displays the IDA Accredited Program seal, the public is assured that program completers have engaged a rigorous, standards-based preparation program designed to promote candidate mastery of the principles and practices of Structured Literacy." Further, IDA's Program Accreditation initiative is guided by four main principles:
- Prioritize the interests of K–12 students above all else;
- Embrace diverse models of educator preparation;
- Maximize student impact through innovative partnerships designed to advance improved educator preparation practices in reading; and
- Commit to a growth-oriented mindset.
The IDA Program Review and Accreditation initiative accepts applications three times each year, and accreditation lasts for a five-year period.
"The International Dyslexia Association congratulates the LETRS program on its recent accreditation," says Sonja Banks, CEO, IDA. "By requiring the mastery of the principals and practices of structured literacy as set forth in IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (KPS), the LETRS program exemplifies the quality and commitment necessary to prepare teachers to provide effective instruction to all students, especially those who struggle."
Neither a curriculum nor a program, the LETRS course of study focuses on preparing PreK–3 teachers with the essential skills for diagnosing reading issues, prescribing evidence-based strategies and assessing the effectiveness of the instruction provided to support all students. The newest version of LETRS includes online instructional videos, journaling and processing activities as educators build background and a common understanding of comprehensive reading instruction.
For more information on:
- LETRS, visit www.voyagersopris.com/professional-development/letrs/overview
- How LETRS supports students with dyslexia, www.voyagersopris.com/dyslexia
- Voyager Sopris Learning, visit www.voyagersopris.com.
About Voyager Sopris Learning
Voyager Sopris Learning is an education partner committed to unlocking the full potential of every teacher and every student. We believe that the best way to meet and exceed standards in education is to address the underlying systems of teaching and learning, and to nurture those systems at their most fundamental levels. Our programs and services are based on research and classroom evidence, ensuring they are easy to implement, teacher friendly and effective. We offer a variety of digital and blended instructional tools, programs, and professional development, all of which are designed to help every teacher deliver nothing short of the highest-quality instruction to every student. Voyager Sopris Learning is a business unit of Cambium Learning Group, Inc.
For more information, visit www.voyagersopris.com, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
About Cambium Learning Group, Inc.
Cambium Learning Group believes every student has great potential, teachers are mission-critical, and data, instruction and practice work together to drive performance. With a portfolio of award-winning brands, Cambium Learning Group's digital and blended curriculum, professional learning, and assessment solutions drive proficiency, equity, and other learning outcomes in classrooms everywhere. Brands include Learning A-Z (online differentiated instruction for elementary school reading, writing and science), ExploreLearning (online interactive math and science simulations, a math fact fluency solution, and a K-2 science solution), Voyager Sopris Learning (blended solutions that accelerate struggling learners to achieve in literacy and math and professional learning for teachers), Cambium Assessment (innovative state- and district-level assessment solutions), and VKidz Learning (online comprehensive homeschool education and programs for literacy and science). Come learn with us at www.cambiumlearning.com.