BOSTON – Ignite Reading, a national tutoring program serving 20 districts in Massachusetts, announced significant literacy gains for 4,300 K-8 students across the Commonwealth. Participating students – in both charter and traditional public schools – achieved an average of 2.5 weeks of reading progress for every week of virtual, one-to-one tutoring instruction – more than double the rate expected in typical classrooms. Notably, these strong results were consistent among all student groups, including students of color, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
Ignite Reading announced the latest results at events this week at schools in Chelsea, Fall River, and Worcester, where the organization was joined by educators and students to showcase the nationally recognized program. The demonstrations were followed by Q&A sessions.
Ignite Reading pairs students with expert tutors who deliver daily, 15-minute, Science of Reading-based instruction to help them master the key foundational skills needed to become independent readers.The program is integrated into the school day and helps unburden teachers by providing individualized instruction for every student.
Below are the regions where Ignite Reading is currently partnering with schools in Massachusetts:
| Regions |
| Boston Area |
| Greater Boston Area |
| Central Massachusetts |
| Northeastern Massachusetts |
| Southeastern Massachusetts |
| Western Massachusetts |
Ignite Reading is now teaching thousands of students to read across 13 states with further plans to expand nationwide. In addition to Massachusetts, the organization is partnering with schools and districts to serve thousands of students in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia this year.
“Across Massachusetts, our one-to-one tutoring ensures students master foundational reading skills, the essential building blocks of reading. Learning to sound out and read any word is critical for reading comprehension and future skill building. We’re proud to partner with Massachusetts’ dedicated educators, families, and – most importantly – the students themselves to unlock a brighter future through the power of reading,” said Jessica Reid Sliwerski, Founder & CEO of Ignite Reading.
About Ignite Reading
Ignite Reading’s mission is to ensure that every student is an independent reader by the end of first grade. The organization was co-founded by CEO Jessica Reid Sliwerski and Evan Marwell, Executive Chairman of Ignite Reading and CEO of EducationSuperHighway. Ignite Reading pairs schools with a dedicated literacy specialist and a team of virtual reading tutors, all highly trained in the Science of Reading, who deliver 1:1 daily instruction to students focused on their specific decoding gaps. Ignite Reading’s data-driven approach, provided by caring and skilled tutors, gives kids the know-how and confidence they need to thrive as fluent readers. The Ignite Reading program, delivered 15 minutes per day during a school’s literacy block, takes the burden of differentiated instruction off of teachers and has an impact immediately. For more information about Ignite Reading, visit: www.ignite-reading.com
