Empowering Teen Tutors, Closing the Literacy Gap
Reading is the foundation for all learning. When students can read fluently and confidently, they’re more likely to succeed in school—and in life.
According to the latest report from the Texas Education Agency, there are significant racial reading achievement gaps in Austin ISD:
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33% of Black Students are reading on grade level.
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38% of Hispanic Students are reading on grade level.
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77% of Asian Students are reading on grade level.
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83% of White Students are reading on grade level.
And reading achievement gaps based on economic status:
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31% of Economically Disadvantaged students are reading on grade level.
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82% of Non-Economically Disadvantaged Students are reading on grade level
Impact Highlights:
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Word Recognition Ability: 10% growth*
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Oral Reading Accuracy: 3.4% growth*
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Reading Speed (Fluency): +24 Words Per Minute*
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Comprehension: 12% growth*
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*Data reflects each student’s growth on their target reading level — the level most appropriate for their current skills — measured from the pre-assessment to the post-assessment after 12 tutoring sessions.
Our Model
We believe literacy is a gateway to liberty. Our approach blends:
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Customized Instruction: Targeted reading lessons based on each student’s literacy ability and personal interest.
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Representation-Rich Content: Stories and historical texts that spark curiosity and inspire a love of reading.
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Mentorship: High-achieving teens (Joy Corps) are trained and paid to tutor and mentor younger students.
How It Works:
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Assessment: Identify strengths and gaps in word recognition ability, oral reading accuracy, oral reading rate (Words PerMinute), and comprehension.
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Plan: Design a personalized 12-week tutoring plan incorporating the child’s reading needs and genre interests
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Progress: Monitor growth every session; adjust instruction to ensure maximum impact.
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Evaluate: Re-assess reading skills and gather feedback from the parent, tutor, and student to measure success and guide next steps.