Overview
Our Mission is to ensure that all students gain the literacy skills they need to become successful, confident, and yes…joyful readers!
Just 33% of Philadelphia’s K-3 students read on grade level. While this challenge affects all Philadelphians, Black and Latinx communities are disproportionately affected: 27% of Black and 22% of Latinx students read on grade level, compared to 52% of their White peers.
In 4th grade, students are expected to begin reading to learn, instead of just learning to read. When kids struggle to read effectively, school gets harder and harder, and educational problems compound. Students who struggle to read well are less likely to graduate high school, have fewer career choices, and miss out on the joy of reading.
The challenges of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to students falling even further behind in their reading skills.
At Joyful Readers, we’re bringing full-time tutors directly into schools to provide daily, intensive reading tutoring to Philly students. Tutors serve in small teams in elementary schools for a full school year. They work 2-on-1 with students who need extra support in reading, using high-quality curriculum to help students gain the literacy skills they need to succeed in school, at work, and in their daily lives.