Students who read have the power to succeed.
Students who are strong readers by the end of third grade are positioned to be strong learners the rest of their lives. But in the United States, more than two-thirds of students reach fourth grade without learning to read proficiently.
Together, we can change this! The amazing thing about Reading Corps is that we train ordinary people to make an incredible impact as reading tutors. Through individualized reading tutoring, students build foundational skills and make meaningful progress. Reading Corps is one of the most effective and efficient reading tutoring programs in the country.
Become a Reading Tutor Become a Site
Reading Corps has served 372,759 students.
Reading Corps Tutors:
- Serve in a school full-time or part-time, providing research-based reading tutoring to kindergarten through third grade students who need extra support.
- Provide reading tutoring interventions that are 20 minutes long, so each student is tutored 100 minutes per week.
- Track student progress and regularly meet with coaches to assess data and work toward learning targets.
Reading Tutoring – Designed for Results
In order to help as many students as possible, Reading Corps is designed to support America’s schools by providing proven tutoring methods. In 2017, Reading Corps was recognized by the Library of Congress for best practices in literacy promotion.
The program continues to be a national model for effective reading tutoring in schools. In 2023, Reading Corps was also recognized as having the highest level of evidence by Evidence for ESSA, and strong evidence of effectiveness by What Works Clearinghouse. In 2024, Reading Corps was awarded the NSSA Tutoring Program Design Badge after receiving an evidence-based review.
Effective
Reading Corps is one of the most effective reading tutoring programs in the country. We’ve scaled nationally to benefit schools in urban, suburban, and rural community – all with successful outcomes!
Proven
Students who received Reading Corps tutoring demonstrated growth in phonics, reading fluency, and oral reading fluency scores that were equivalent to an extra 50%-90% of a year of schooling.
Economical
Our cost-effective tutoring programs provide a good value for schools by providing hundreds of hours of support for the students and staff. Some locations pay a small site fee.
FAST FACTS
2X
After a single semester of reading tutoring, the average kindergarten student in Reading Corps performs twice as well as their peers.
3X
Elementary students who receive Reading Corps services are nearly three times less likely to be referred for special education services.
#1
In a study conducted by Accelerate, among literacy programs with tutoring from non-licensed teachers, Reading Corps was the most efficient overall — requiring just 20.2 hours of tutoring to achieve one month of growth.
Pilots and Innovations
Total Learning Classroom Initiative
Our team works to research, pilot, evaluate, and scale new ways to help kids go further. Out of that research and evaluation comes new initiatives to explore potential solutions for emerging needs. Like our Total Learning Classroom Initiative.
As part of Total Learning Classroom, AmeriCorps members called “Scholar Coaches” serve at schools with high academic needs. Embedded in K-3 classrooms, they provide additional capacity and partner with a licensed teacher to help students become better readers, engage families in learning, and promote systems change.
Serving as a Scholar Coach is great preparation for graduate programs and careers in education and public service. Members receive excellent training and are part of a team of Scholar Coaches at their school.
MNGOT + Reading Corps
In collaboration with The University of Minnesota, Reading Corps is offering an exciting new pathway to becoming a teacher. The Minnesota Grow Your Own Teacher (MNGOT) is focused on preparing new educators and helping to address a growing teacher shortage in Minnesota.
Rooted in service, the program is designed to build on Reading Corps experience and be completed while serving as a tutor. The five-semester program is 36 credits and prepares participants for K-6 licensure. Coursework is completed through a hybrid model that includes weekly online classes and in-person learning twice a semester. Generous scholarships are available through the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities College of Education and Human Development to cover the costs of tuition.
Learn MoreReading Corps Locations
California
Locations: Fresno, Imperial, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties; Calexico, Livingston, Moreno Valley
Ages Served: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 20, 27.5 or 35 hours
Positions: Reading Tutor
Visit the California PageGeorgia
Locations: Bibb, Calhoun, Clay, DeKalb, Dougherty, Douglas, Greene, Henry, Fulton, Laurens, Muscogee, Peach, and Talbot counties; Dublin, Duluth
Ages Served: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 25 or 35 hours
Positions: Reading Tutor
Visit the Georgia PageIdaho
Locations: Caldwell, Hansen, Jerome, Middleton, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Wilder
Ages Served: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 35, 25 or 18 hours
Positions: Reading Tutor
Visit the Idaho PageMinnesota
Locations: Statewide
Ages Served: Kindergarten- 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 10, 18, 25 or 35
Positions: Reading Tutor, Scholar Coach
Visit the Minnesota PageMississippi
Locations: Belzoni, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Ages Served: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 18, 25 or 35 hours
Positions: Reading Tutor
Visit the Mississippi Page
Wisconsin
Locations: Statewide
Ages Served: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Weekly Commitment: 25 or 35 hours
Positions: Reading Tutor, Scholar Coach
Visit the Wisconsin PageAdditional Locations
Each year we partner with nearly 2,000 schools and mobilize more than 3,000 tutors across the country. No matter the location, our AmeriCorps members use the same model, data-driven insights, and tools to help students achieve incredible growth. We provide technical support to partner organizations that have licensed Reading Corps in the following states:
READING TUTOR STORIES
“It’s gratifying that my work might have made a difference.”
“I saw the support my son received from his tutors, and the relationship was very special. I know if I could help someone’s child in their academic journey, I wanted to do so in return.”
“Having a strong desire to pursue a career in education, I believed this would be a great opportunity to pursue relevant tutoring experience and a chance to develop my skills working with multiple age groups.”
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