research-backed

From regular student assessment to contracting for independent studies, Reading Partners systematically collects, analyzes, and uses data to generate knowledge, improve programs, and report on impacts.

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science of reading

The established and growing research we have about how students learn to read, including systemic phonics education.

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individualized

A facet of high-dosage tutoring in which a tutor offers personalized attention to their student, resulting in targeted support, and personalized literacy learning.

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high-dosage

The frequency of a learning experience. For example, Reading Partners students receive twice weekly tutoring for maximum growth.

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educational equity

Ensuring every student, no matter their race, gender, socioeconomic level, or location has access to the resources and support they need to succeed in school and in life.

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student-tutor pair during a literacy lesson

Our past and future

Since 1999, Reading Partners has been mobilizing communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.
Our history
1999
1999

Three community leaders, Mary Wright Shaw, Molly McCrory, and Jean Bacigalupi, launched a one-on-one tutoring program to help children who had fallen behind in reading at Belle Haven Community School in Menlo Park, CA.

2001
2001

Our three founders recruited a dedicated group of volunteers to tutor students at a local elementary school—these volunteers quickly recognized the powerful effect of one-on-one attention and in 2001 YES Reading was incorporated as a 501(c)(3).

2004
2004

YES Reading hires the first full-time executive director and expands to second school site at Selby Lane Elementary in Redwood City.

2007
2007

The program expands to serve schools in the Oakland/East Bay area.

2008
2008

 YES Reading expands to serve San Francisco schools and is renamed Reading Partners. Reading Partners expands to Los Angeles, CA.

2010
2010

Reading Partners is awarded first AmeriCorps grant and expands to Washington, DC, our first expansion outside of CA.

2011
2011

Reading Partners expands to New York City and is selected as Social Innovation Fund recipient.

2012
2012

Reading Partners expands to Baltimore, MD; Dallas, TX; and to Denver, CO.

2013
2013

Reading Partners expands to Tulsa, OK and Charleston, SC.

2014
2014

MDRC randomized control trial proves Reading Partners is an effective intervention.

We expand to serve students in Seattle, WA.

2015
2015

Reading Partners expands to serve students in Twin Cities, MN and Charlotte, NC.

2017
2017

APA, a leading national education research firm, found that students served by Reading Partners (particularly English Language Learners) showed significantly greater improvement in their literacy skills than comparison students not served by the program.

Reading Partners is recognized as a best practice honoree by the Library of Congress.

2019
2019

Reading Partners celebrates 20 years of impact and introduces a new logo.

2020
2020

Reading Partners quickly adapts to the widespread disrupted learning caused by COVID-19, successfully developing and implementing an innovative online tutoring platform called Reading Partners Connects.

2022
2022

Reading Partners surpasses 2.5 million tutoring sessions delivered to students.

2025
2025

Reading Partners celebrates 25 years of impact.

Celebrating 25 years of impact

One For The Books: Powering Innovation Through Literacy

In 2025, we marked 25 years in the books with a benefit held in New York City. Under the excellent hosting guidance of emcee Michelle Buteau, we honored several impactful changemakers: author Kwame Alexander, music producer Darryl DMC McDaniels, long-time supporters of Reading Partners New York City Alexis and Steve Strongin, and two of our incredible students, Masen and Cortlan.

Over the course of the evening, we raised more than $1 million for student literacy, ensuring high-quality reading instruction for thousands of kids nationwide for years to come.

Our mission and vision

Our mission

Our mission is to help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction with measurable results.

Our vision

We envision a future where all children in the US have the reading skills necessary to reach their full potential.

Our strategic plan

Over the next several years, we will transform who we are as an organization to exponentially increase educational access and early literacy support for students who need it most. Learn more about our strategic plan here.

Our values

1. Reading matters

We fundamentally believe that the ability to read transforms lives and changes outcomes for children and communities. We want every child to experience the joy and power of becoming a lifelong reader, and we are focused on this mission.

2. Big challenges are our thing

We seize opportunities to make a positive impact, and are relentless in the pursuit of our mission and goals. We take ownership, act with urgency, aren’t afraid to do the hard work, and give 100 percent every day.

3. Volunteers get results

We know that service and volunteerism work. We mobilize and intentionally nurture a community of AmeriCorps members, volunteers, and partners to make a difference.

4. Together we are better

We believe that everyone has a part to play in working to close the opportunity gap, and that collaborative efforts create unlimited potential for students and communities. We maximize impact through collective leadership and build meaningful partnerships to advance our shared vision and strategy.

5. Data drive decisions

We use research and evidence to develop our programs and initiatives, and to ensure exceptional results. We enthusiastically and continuously question what we know and how we do things to generate knowledge of what works best.

6. Laughter keeps us going

We encourage, appreciate, and celebrate each other with exuberance and a sense of humor. We embrace joy, eccentricity, and a healthy dose of laughter in our daily work.

Our impact since 1999

100,000+

community volunteers mobilized

Our Cover to Cover book series
Read story

3 million+

individualized literacy tutoring sessions delivered

View our impact since 1999
Adeola Whitney: CEO, leader, volunteer tutor
Read story

Nearly 90,000

elementary school students reached