Reading Partners Twin Cities to continue supporting students through online tutoring while returning to in-person program model where possible
September 10, 2021
A Reading Partners student works remotely with a volunteer tutor using the Reading Partners Connects program innovation (photo credit: Reading Partners)
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brooke Rivers
Executive Director, Reading Partners Twin Cities
(612) 382-2558 | brooke.rivers@readingpartners.org
Nonprofit’s 2020-21 impact results show that its innovative online program, Reading Partners Connects, positively impacted students last year
(St. Paul, MN) September 10, 2021
Reading Partners is ready to support student learning no matter what this school year brings
With the COVID-19 Delta variant spreading in communities across the country and vaccine timelines for young children still undetermined, no one knows exactly what to expect from the 2021-22 school year. Given the many variables at play, Reading Partners knows that a hybrid approach to tutoring will ensure that students will be able to receive much-needed literacy support regardless of public health circumstances. Where it is feasible to do so safely, Reading Partners will offer its traditional in-person tutoring program with community volunteers working one-on-one with students in a dedicated reading center in local public schools. In cases where in-person tutoring is not possible, Reading Partners Connects will allow volunteer tutors to work remotely with individual students in real time. Reading Partners Connects offers the same research-based curriculum materials, scripted lessons, and coaching that support volunteers through the traditional tutoring model.
Students need Reading Partners more than ever
The widespread school interruptions of the past few years have exacerbated pre existing opportunity gaps (with pandemic-related learning loss disproportionately impacting Black and Latinx students and students experiencing economic disadvantages). Reading is foundational—the ability to read transforms lives and empowers children and communities to thrive. When students can read on grade level by fourth grade, they become well-positioned to graduate from high school, access higher-education, and contribute to an increasingly information-based world. Reading Partners is committed to ensuring that all students receive equitable access to the literacy education they deserve and rigorous research has proven that Reading Partners helps students significantly increase reading proficiency.
2020-21 results show that Reading Partners’ innovation helped positively impact students
Each year, Reading Partners publishes reports highlighting student performance for the national organization and for each of its 12 respective regions across the country. The Impact & Innovation reports for the 2020-21 school year have recently been posted on readingpartners.org and include the following highlights.
- In the Twin Cities:
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160 students at 8 partner schools were matched with 253 community volunteers who delivered a total of 4,182 tutoring sessions over the course of the year.
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97% of tutoring sessions were delivered online via Reading Partners Connects.
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Facing historic educational disruptions, 92% of K-2 Reading Partners students and 77% of all Reading Partners students met or exceeded their primary literacy growth goal.
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Despite the heavy shift to an online tutoring platform, and because volunteers received a collective 1,762 hours of training last year (including many new focus areas), 91% of volunteers were satisfied with their experience.
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This past summer, over 150 packages of books were sent home to students to encourage and support summer reading.
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Learn more about Reading Partners’ impact in the Twin Cities here.
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Learn about Reading Partners’ national impact here.
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“I would love to give a huge thanks to everyone who worked with my boys, my Kevin* has so much self-confidence now it is unbelievable. I am so glad that he is not struggling with pressing to read and sound out words. He read my text messages from his dad out loud yesterday just by being in the habit of reading, man I tell you, that makes my heart completely happy. I do my best with my 6 children, but at times they have gone without that extra help. I am so proud of them, especially Kevin because he struggled the most, and just didn’t believe in himself. Thank you, thank you, thank you! My children are examples of Reading Partners, being truly needed, and Reading Partners 100% working!”
– Parent of a Reading Partners Twin Cities student
Community involvement will allow Reading Partners to maximize student support
The impressive student results highlighted in the 2020-21 Impact & Innovation report are fueled by the generous participation of thousands of community volunteers and donors. In the 2021-22 school year, Reading Partners will provide direct literacy tutoring and support to 12,000 students nationwide and hundreds of students in the Twin Cities across its various learning environments.
To become a volunteer with Reading Partners, please visit readingpartners.org/volunteer and to financially support Reading Partners’ mission centered on educational equity and opportunity for all students, please visit readingpartners.org/donate.
Photo of a student and volunteer tutor in reading centers engaging in Reading Partners’ traditional tutoring program (Photo Credit: Reading Partners)
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About Reading Partners
For over 20 years, Reading Partners has helped empower students to succeed in reading and in life by engaging community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. Since its founding, the national nonprofit organization has mobilized over 70,000 community volunteers to provide proven, individualized literacy tutoring to nearly 70,000 elementary school students in over 450 under-resourced schools across ten states and the District of Columbia. Visit readingpartners.org to learn more about our program impact and our Reading Partners Connects online program innovation, or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Reading Partners is a proud AmeriCorps service partner and has been endorsed by the New York Times.