Literacy in the Living Room: Reading Partners at Home Launches Free Virtual Tutoring in Newark

Originally posted on The Newark Times

In a city where early literacy has reached a critical juncture, a powerful new alliance is bringing high-dosage support directly into the homes of Newark families. “Newark was on fire.” That is how Tish Johnson-Jones, Executive Director of GreenLight Greater Newark, described the state of early literacy in the city when her organization began investigating the issue in 2023. With data showing only 19% of third graders reading at grade level, the crisis wasn’t just an academic hurdle—it was a systemic emergency.

https://readingpartners.org/In an interview with The Newark Times, Johnson-Jones and Dr. Naima Ricks of Reading Partners detailed the launch of Reading Partners at Home, a virtual tutoring initiative that aims to bridge the divide between Newark students and the high-cost resources typically reserved for the suburbs.

Ending the “Suburban Advantage”

A primary driver behind the program is economic equity. Johnson-Jones noted that in more affluent areas, families spend upwards of $75 an hour on private learning centers without a second thought.

“But when you’re working with families making really tough decisions—’Am I eating tonight? Am I paying my rent?’—you don’t have the extra resources,” Johnson-Jones said. “We wanted a model that met people where they were. It could be a community center, a library, or a home.”

Beyond the Classroom: A Holistic Approach

While the program is anchored in the “science of reading,” Dr. Naima Ricks, Managing Director of Partnerships and Growth, emphasizes that the impact is often as emotional as it is educational. Because many Newark students come from large families or crowded classrooms, the one-on-one nature of the program provides a rare form of validation.

“It feels like they have made a new mentor,” Dr. Ricks explained. “The curriculum is fun and interactive—they may even forget they’re in tutoring. They feel rewarded having someone so supportive while they learn and grow as a person.”

Dr. Ricks noted that the curriculum is adaptive. For a fourth-grader reading at a first-grade level, the program doesn’t focus on the “deficiency,” but starts at their current level to build confidence and skills simultaneously.

A “Both-And” Solution for the School System

When asked if these nonprofit efforts are a distraction from strengthening the public school system, Johnson-Jones was firm: it requires collective action.

“I think it’s a both-and,” she stated. “Schools have to be strengthened… but child development goes beyond literacy. Reading Partners is a prevention program. If we don’t address early literacy, we’ll always have housing, workforce development, and food insecurity challenges.”

The Race to July 1

The program is currently in a sprint to enroll 200 students by July 1. This pilot is the first step in a massive five-year goal to reach 3,500 students across the city.

The organizers are making a direct plea to Newark residents to join the effort. “Community can be engaged,” Johnson-Jones said. “Anyone can be a reading partner. We often hear ‘What can I do?’ Well, get trained, and meet with a student twice a week to help close that gap.”

How to Get Involved

• For Families: Free tutoring is available for K-4 students in the Greater Newark area. All that is required is a device and a reliable internet connection.

• For Volunteers: Anyone aged 14 and up can volunteer. No prior teaching experience is necessary; Reading Partners provides all training and curriculum materials.

• Sign Up: Visit ReadingPartners.org/Newark or follow @ReadingPartnersNewark on social media.

“Literacy is at the forefront of everything,” Dr. Ricks concluded. “Whether you want to be a scientist or go into any other background, you need to learn how to read. We want families to take advantage of this.”