Literacy Tutoring

In 2019, thanks to a grant from Jacksonville’s Kids Hope Alliance, READ USA piloted a research-backed, peer-to-peer reading tutoring program that trains and pays Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) high school students to tutor struggling elementary school students. During the first summer, over 200 elementary students received daily, intensive one-to-one tutoring focused on reading fluency, phonemic awareness and comprehension skills. These sessions helped prevent summer learning loss and set students up for success when the school year started again.

The reading gains made by both the elementary school and high school students during the pilot program were overwhelming. In addition to reading progress, the teen tutors – many from under-resourced communities – gained valuable workforce development skills and bonded with the students in their care, while being paid a living wage of $15 per hour. Due to the program’s success, READ USA is working with DCPS to expand this program each summer to reach even more high school and elementary school students.

With the support of Jacksonville University, University of North Florida and Ohio State University to assess the program’s evidence-based positive outcomes, READ USA hopes to expand this program beyond Duval County.