Literacy Instruction
The United States ranks 36th in literacy rates globally.
We have a plan to change that.
The Problem
Our Solution
From the 2024 National Assessment on Education Progress (The Nation’s Report Card):
Only 61% of eighth graders report high levels of confidence in their reading skills.
Only 31% of fourth-graders are at or above NAEP proficiency in reading.
40% of fourth-graders performed below the NAEP Basic level.
From the National Literacy Institute (2024-2025):
“… those lacking literacy face severely restricted options, with even entry-level, low-skilled jobs posing challenges to secure.”
21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2024.
54% of adults have a literacy proficiency below a 6th-grade level; 20% are below a 5th-grade level.
From the Barbara Bush Foundation (2024):
“Children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to graduate from high school than those who read below grade level.”
“Low literacy is linked to some of today’s most pressing concerns, including economic growth, public health and safety, and civic engagement.”
We provide preschool and early elementary school students with targeted literacy instruction. We leverage research-backed, evidence-based methods to assess students’ literacy levels and tailor instruction to ensure continuous progress. Through the Literacy Lab Fellowship, Fellows each support a single Pre-K classroom for the entire school year by providing one-on-one, small-group, and whole-group literacy instruction to children. Fellows implement a research-backed literacy framework that builds foundational skills, including letter recognition, vocabulary, and phonemic awareness. The Literacy Lab conducts a Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI) assessment three times per year – once in the fall for benchmark data, once at the end of the calendar year, and again in the spring. PELI is designed to measure pre-literacy skills and Kindergarten readiness. Through these tri-annual assessments and ongoing progress monitoring, we meet students where they are and focus on growth.
A Fellow conducting literacy instruction with a student in one of our partner classrooms in Baltimore, MD.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The Literacy Lab is expanding our impact and innovating to serve more children with increased excellence.
Our Innovation
We are advancing greater access to literacy and long-term scalability by developing a proprietary Pre-K-5 Literacy and Learning Model. In the 2025-26 school year, the Model is in the research and development phase, with early components being tested in selected Pre-K classrooms. We are excited to pilot this model for SY2026-27 in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classrooms, and a goal of bringing the full Model to classrooms across all the country, through a diverse menu of services, by 2030.
The research is clear, investing in literacy transforms individuals, communities, and society, for the better.