Our impact
School-year impact
Partnering with schools and communities, we mobilize volunteers to engage in one-on-one tutoring (either in person or online) with students who are working to boost their literacy skills. This past school year, 91% of K-2 Reading Partners students and 87% of all Reading Partners students met or exceeded their primary literacy growth goal.
Proven programs
Reading Partners is committed to ensuring that students gain the critical reading skills needed to prepare them for academic, social, and civic success. At the core of our program model is the use of multiple data sources to monitor student progress and site quality, and to evaluate program success. From annual student assessment and quality monitoring activities to researching the effectiveness of pilot initiatives and contracting for independent studies, Reading Partners systematically collects, analyzes, and uses data to generate knowledge, improve programs, and report on impacts.
We assess student reading skills three times during the year and formally survey teachers twice each year to track each student’s progress and ensure high-quality programming. The assessment process enables our staff to benchmark students’ reading levels at enrollment, modify instructional reading plans during the year, and report gains at the end of the school year.
In addition, our volunteer tutors write observational notes after each tutoring session. Our site staff review the notes and use the information to provide additional instructional support and guidance for tutors throughout the year.
Partners in impact
Schools
Reading Partners works with under-resourced schools in geographic centers around the country. Our one-on-one tutoring model is proven to raise students’ reading proficiency. To qualify for our direct service, a majority of the students enrolled at the school must qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Community partners
Reading Partners works with individuals, companies, and organizations that care about early education in their community. These community partners help provide volunteers, funding, and services to our local programs, allowing Reading Partners to serve more schools and students. Our community partners extend our impact to the broader community, expanding our network of supporters and reading advocates.
AmeriCorps
Reading Partners has been a proud partner of AmeriCorps for nearly 15 years. In 2010, Reading Partners recruited 33 AmeriCorps members in California, and since then has expanded across the country, engaging 300+ AmeriCorps members serving thousands of children each year. AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Reading Partners is proud to be a part of this network and looks forward to continuing our partnership with AmeriCorps.
Our supporters
Reading Partners is grateful to the individuals and organizations who share our commitment to raising reading achievement. See a full list of our supporters.
Third party research
Independent, gold-standard research finalized in 2015 by MDRC demonstrated, through a randomized control trial, that Reading Partners has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and reading fluency.
Independent, gold-standard research finalized in 2015 by MDRC demonstrated, through a randomized control trial, that Reading Partners has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and reading fluency.
An independent, five-year study conducted by Augenblick, Palaich, and Associates (APA), a leading national education research and evaluation firm, has affirmed the strength of Reading Partners’ program.
An independent, five-year study conducted by Augenblick, Palaich, and Associates (APA), a leading national education research and evaluation firm, has affirmed the strength of Reading Partners’ program.
In 2016, Reading Partners launched a two-year research partnership with Child Trends, a leading national nonprofit research organization focused on improving the lives and prospects of children, youth, and their families. This study built upon findings from Reading Partners’ two rigorous impact studies, including deeper exploration of the characteristics and experiences of Reading Partners’ volunteer tutors, and a first look at social-emotional learning outcomes for our students.
In 2016, Reading Partners launched a two-year research partnership with Child Trends, a leading national nonprofit research organization focused on improving the lives and prospects of children, youth, and their families. This study built upon findings from Reading Partners’ two rigorous impact studies, including deeper exploration of the characteristics and experiences of Reading Partners’ volunteer tutors, and a first look at social-emotional learning outcomes for our students.
In spring 2018, Reading Partners contracted with Policy Studies Associates (PSA) to conduct the Reading Partners AmeriCorps Alumni Study, intended to deepen the organization’s understanding of the quality of the Reading Partners AmeriCorps service experience and its effects on the civic engagement and educational and career pathways of their AmeriCorps and VISTA alumni.
In spring 2018, Reading Partners contracted with Policy Studies Associates (PSA) to conduct the Reading Partners AmeriCorps Alumni Study, intended to deepen the organization’s understanding of the quality of the Reading Partners AmeriCorps service experience and its effects on the civic engagement and educational and career pathways of their AmeriCorps and VISTA alumni.
The 2021-2022 school year was the first year of at-scale implementation for Reading Partners’ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. During a time when COVID-19 continued to deeply impact communities, Reading Partners contracted with the OMNI Institute to examine successes and challenges with implementing Reading Partners SEL curriculum at scale and to evaluate students’ SEL outcomes.
The 2021-2022 school year was the first year of at-scale implementation for Reading Partners’ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. During a time when COVID-19 continued to deeply impact communities, Reading Partners contracted with the OMNI Institute to examine successes and challenges with implementing Reading Partners SEL curriculum at scale and to evaluate students’ SEL outcomes.
Reading Partners is pleased to be highlighted as one of five effective one-on-one literacy tutoring programs in a June 2017 report conducted by Research for Action for the William Penn Foundation entitled Supporting Literacy in Out-of-School Time: Summary of Evidence.
Reading Partners is pleased to be highlighted as one of five effective one-on-one literacy tutoring programs in a June 2017 report conducted by Research for Action for the William Penn Foundation entitled Supporting Literacy in Out-of-School Time: Summary of Evidence.
Report: CEO Adeola Whitney named one of the top 100 influencers in EdTech
See full report here.
Report: Accelerating Student Learning with High-Dosage Tutoring
See full report here.
Literacy Tutoring for Baltimore: What we know, where we are, and how to move forward
See full report here.
Institute of Education Sciences What Works Clearinghouse
See full report here.
White House My Brother’s Keeper Showcase
See full report here.
Strong ESSA Rating: Evidence for ESSA
See summary here.
Library of Congress Best Practice Honoree: Reading Partners
See the announcement here.