research-backed

From regular student assessment to contracting for independent studies, Reading Partners systematically collects, analyzes, and uses data to generate knowledge, improve programs, and report on impacts.

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science of reading

The established and growing research we have about how students learn to read, including systemic phonics education.

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individualized

A facet of high-dosage tutoring in which a tutor offers one-on-one attention to their student, resulting in targeted support, and personalized literacy learning.

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high-dosage

The frequency of a learning experience. For example, Reading Partners students receive twice weekly tutoring for maximum growth.

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educational equity

Ensuring every student, no matter their race, gender, socioeconomic level, or location has access to the resources and support they need to succeed in school and in life.

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Jalessa Hurd

Jalessa has passionately pursued education reform and equity throughout her career. While attending Pepperdine University and earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Jalessa’s love of educational equity began to grow as she taught in preschools with Jumpstart. There she managed teams who implemented sessions on phonemic and phonological awareness to preschoolers. During that time, Jalessa also joined the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative, where she secured funding through grant writing and organizing fundraising events to ensure transportation for students to educational partnerships throughout Washington, DC. After graduating in 2017, she moved to Tulsa to continue her devotion to education with Teach for America as a fourth grade teacher at Celia Clinton Elementary. Jalessa joined Reading Partners as a program manager in 2019, to continue on her journey of achieving educational equity and social justice. She is excited about the Reading Partners movement and looks forward to seeing the positive change community volunteerism will make for childhood literacy.