LETRS has swept across the United States over the past few years, becoming one of the most influential professional development programs tied to the Science of Reading movement. Teachers from every corner of the country — from rural Montana to downtown Chicago — are asking the same questions:

Is LETRS required in my state?
Is it funded?
Do I have to take it?
Which edition are we using?
How does it connect to my state’s literacy plan?

This nationwide guide gives a clear, state-by-state overview of how LETRS is being used in the USA in 2025. You’ll find which states mandate it, which recommend it, and where LETRS is expanding the fastest.

This is the most complete and teacher-friendly LETRS USA overview available online — perfect for educators who need clarity in a confusing national landscape.

What Is LETRS? (Nationwide Summary)

LETRS — Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling — is an in-depth professional development program that trains educators in the science of reading. It is not a curriculum. It is a teacher knowledge course covering:

phonological awareness
decoding & phonics
vocabulary development
fluency
comprehension
writing foundations
language structure
assessment interpretation

Across the USA, LETRS is used for:

K–5 teachers
reading specialists
administrators
early childhood educators
special education teams
interventionists
literacy coaches

Some states require it, others fund it, and some allow districts to choose.

Why LETRS Matters Nationally

The USA is experiencing a massive shift toward structured literacy after decades of instructional inconsistency. LETRS gives states a common framework based on cognitive science, helping improve:

foundational reading
dyslexia support
MTSS / RTI intervention quality
statewide literacy outcomes
teacher confidence
early childhood readiness

States adopting LETRS often see major gains in decoding and early reading benchmarks.

LETRS in the USA: 50-State Overview (2025)

Below is the state-by-state LETRS status — simplified, clear, and up-to-date based on publicly available initiatives, district adoption patterns, literacy funding programs, and statewide PD movements.

⭐ States With Statewide LETRS Mandates or Large-Scale Requirements

1. North Carolina

Mandatory for K–5 teachers statewide, one of the largest LETRS rollouts in the country.

2. Mississippi

Deep adoption tied to state legislation and literacy growth initiatives.

3. Arkansas

Required for many K–6 educators and literacy specialists.

4. Colorado

Required for K–3 teachers as part of statewide literacy legislation.

5. Ohio

Statewide science-of-reading law pushing LETRS for teachers and administrators.

6. Alabama

Strong adoption, especially in early literacy and dyslexia support programs.

7. Tennessee

Part of statewide reading initiative; many districts required to complete LETRS or equivalent.

8. Georgia

Significant statewide funding and large district cohorts.

9. Oklahoma

Ongoing LETRS statewide rollout tied to reading improvement programs.

These states show the highest teacher participation.

⭐ States With Strong Statewide Encouragement or Funding (Not Full Mandates)

Michigan

State Board supports LETRS; districts strongly encouraged.

Maryland

LETRS required for future certification exams for many educators.

Kansas

Not required but widely adopted through TASN and district PD funding.

Utah

Strong adoption across large districts.

Nebraska

Grant-based LETRS cohorts expanding each year.

Arizona

High district buy-in; state encourages science-of-reading PD.

Minnesota

Large districts use LETRS; statewide push toward structured literacy.

Kentucky

State initiatives support LETRS funding and training through regional cooperatives.

New Mexico

State-driven literacy reforms include LETRS as a recommended course.

Virginia

Widespread district adoption; LETRS used within dyslexia initiatives.

West Virginia

Encouraged statewide; districts rely on LETRS for K–5 reading improvement.

Maine

Growing adoption; LETRS recommended in DOE literacy alignment.

These states have strong momentum, even without mandates.

⭐ States With Mixed, District-Optional LETRS Adoption

Texas

Massive district adoption, especially in large urban areas, but no statewide mandate.

Florida

Used across many districts, often through literacy grants.

Indiana

Many districts using LETRS as primary PD.

Iowa

District-based adoption through AEA support.

South Carolina

Large participation, especially in early grades.

Louisiana

Widespread use tied to state literacy shift.

Missouri

Adoption varies by district; strong participation through state literacy grants.

Pennsylvania

High-cohort adoption in urban and suburban districts.

Illinois

Used in many districts; popularity rising.

New York

Many districts use LETRS; big interest in NYC and surrounding regions.

New Jersey

Mixed adoption; large districts increasingly participating.

Nevada

Adopted by several county-level districts.

Colorado (beyond the requirement)

Districts often go beyond minimum requirements.

These states rely heavily on district leadership decisions.

⭐ States With Limited or Emerging LETRS Adoption

Hawaii

Slow rollout, mostly district-led.

Alaska

District-based interest, but limited statewide support.

Vermont

Beginning stages, mostly teacher-initiated.

New Hampshire

District-led LETRS growth.

Rhode Island

Small states but growing interest in structured literacy.

Connecticut

Some regional participation.

Delaware

Early, limited adoption.

Montana

Emerging through early literacy initiatives.

Wyoming

Still small but growing interest.

South Dakota

District-level, early phases.

North Dakota

Several small district initiatives.

Wisconsin

Mixed adoption; some districts push LETRS heavily.

Idaho

Beginning structured literacy efforts.

These states may expand LETRS strongly in the next few years.

LETRS Early Childhood in the USA

Across the country, Early Childhood LETRS is used to:

strengthen preschool literacy
support early oral language
align Pre-K with K–3 reading initiatives
improve early intervention
prepare students for kindergarten

States most active in EC LETRS:

Kansas
North Carolina
Colorado
Arizona
Tennessee
Michigan
Nebraska
Ohio
Georgia

Preschool literacy is one of the fastest-growing LETRS segments nationwide.

LETRS for Administrators (USA Overview)

Administrators nationwide use LETRS to:

observe high-quality reading instruction
design literacy plans
implement MTSS better
align curriculum with science of reading
support teachers completing LETRS

More states are now requiring LETRS for:

principals
district literacy leaders
instructional coaches
superintendent cabinet members

Leadership LETRS is expanding as rapidly as teacher LETRS.

Costs, Hours, and Training Time (National Averages)

Training Time

12–24 months for both volumes
workshops + online modules

Hours

140–180 total hours depending on district pacing

Cost

Ranges widely:
$1,000–$2,500 per teacher
(often covered by state grants or district budgets)

Why LETRS Adoption Differs Between States

Factors affecting adoption:

state legislation
literacy funding
dyslexia laws
district autonomy
reading scores
existing PD contracts

States with strong science-of-reading laws usually have stronger LETRS participation.

Nationwide FAQ: LETRS in the USA (2025)

Is LETRS required nationally?

No — but many states require or strongly encourage it.

Is LETRS connected to dyslexia laws?

Yes. Many states use LETRS to satisfy dyslexia and structured literacy requirements.

Do early childhood teachers take LETRS?

Yes — Early Childhood LETRS is growing rapidly.

Do administrators need LETRS?

Many states recommend or require leadership versions.

Is LETRS free?

Free only when funded by state or district grants.

Will LETRS become required nationwide?

It’s trending that way, but it depends on state legislation.

Conclusion

LETRS has become one of the most influential literacy training programs in the United States. From states with full mandates to districts adopting it independently, the nationwide movement toward structured literacy continues to grow. As more teachers strengthen their understanding of how children learn to read, student outcomes are improving across the country.

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or district leader, this 50-state overview gives you a clear picture of where LETRS is today — and where it’s headed in the coming years.