IMSE Orton-Gillingham: Structured Literacy Training Agreement 2026-27
The official document
What the district published
This is the source material — exactly as released by RUSD. The plain English translation below is this site's version, written for community members who shouldn't need to know all the lingo to understand what they're legally entitled to as taxpayers, and how to access it.
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What this document actually says
This is a contract between Reed Union School District and the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) for teacher training in structured literacy using the IMSE Orton-Gillingham method during the 2026-27 school year.
What the training covers: A five-day intensive program teaching educators research-based, multisensory strategies to improve literacy instruction, assess reading skills, and support students at all levels. MCOE is offering this training at a subsidized rate of $500 per teacher (the full cost is $1,500).
Training schedule: Four cohorts are offered: fall (Sept-Oct), winter (Jan-Feb), spring (March), and summer (June). Fall, winter, and spring sessions are held over five consecutive weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The summer session runs four consecutive days from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Financial terms: RUSD pays the $500 subsidized rate per teacher if they complete all five days. If a teacher doesn't complete the training, RUSD owes the full $1,500. Districts receive up to $300 per day per teacher for substitute coverage (fall, winter, spring cohorts) or a $600 stipend for summer participants who complete the training.
What this means for your family
This training should improve how RUSD teachers teach reading, especially for students who struggle with literacy. The Orton-Gillingham approach is a well-known, research-based method that uses multisensory techniques and is particularly effective for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
Families won't see immediate changes, but over time, teachers who complete this training should be better equipped to identify reading difficulties early, differentiate instruction for different learners, and monitor individual student progress in reading skills.
Lina's read
Candidate perspective
I'm glad to see the district investing in literacy training, especially an evidence-based approach like Orton-Gillingham. Reading is foundational to everything else our students do, and structured literacy methods have strong research backing them. My question is: how many teachers are participating, and how will the district ensure this training actually changes classroom practice? Professional development is only as good as the implementation and follow-through.
Summaries are AI-assisted and based on the original district document shown above. Nothing has been editorialized — interpretations are clearly labeled. This site is maintained by Lina Godfrey's campaign as a community resource.