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The Literacy Lab: Turning the Page

Literacy is a human right—and with the right support, it can be a pathway to liberation for every child.

Imagine a classroom where every child believes they can succeed, where community leaders, of different ages and backgrounds, serve as mentors and role models, and where the ability to read unlocks doors to a future full of opportunity. At The Literacy Lab, we make that vision a reality. We believe literacy is more than a skill—it’s a foundation for opportunity and lifelong success.

Yet, across the country, too many children – especially those in low-income communities – are locked out of opportunities due to the literacy crisis. That’s where we step in. Through transformative programs, we work with talented future educators to provide critical, evidence-based literacy instruction to the students who need it most. In doing so, we support students’ learning and development and build up the next generation of educators and leaders. 

Together with partners like you, we are working to ensure every child has the chance to read, learn, and thrive.

Our Mission

The Literacy Lab strives to ensure that all people have access to evidence-based literacy development to unlock opportunities for success in school and life. 

This mission guides everything we do. We know that intentional action is required to fulfill that mission. Every day, The Literacy Lab works to address the national literacy crisis by embedding rigorously trained, emerging educators in early childhood centers and elementary schools to provide dedicated capacity to support children’s literacy development and by building a pipeline of future educators. In other words, we combine an unwavering commitment to giving every child access and opportunity with on-the-ground action to ensure all students gain the literacy skills they need to flourish.

The Challenge: A National Literacy Crisis

The United States has been engulfed in a profound literacy crisis that threatens to undermine the future of our children, communities, and economy. Consider these stark realities:

Widespread Low Proficiency: Only 36% of all U.S. fourth graders are reading at a proficient level. These disheartening early literacy outcomes have lasting consequences. Students who are not proficient readers by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Nationally, 23% of third graders reading below basic levels fail to graduate on time, compared to just Cumu4% of proficient readers.

Declining Engagement: Reading for pleasure is at an all-time low. Only 43% of children and teens report that they enjoy reading in their free time (2023)—the lowest level recorded since this statistic was first tracked in 2005. A decline in reading enjoyment often translates to less practice and weaker skills.

Ripple Effect on Education: Literacy struggles have broad implications beyond reading itself. 60% of classroom behavioral problems occur during reading activities—a sign that difficulty with reading can lead to frustration and disengagement in all academic areas. By 12th grade, nearly two-thirds of high school students remain below proficient in reading, severely limiting their preparedness for college

College and Career Consequences: Lack of literacy proficiency follows students into higher education and employment. Roughly 40% of college entrants need “remedial” coursework due to inadequate literacy skills developed in high school, and only 17% of those needing “remedial reading” successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. Adults facing low literacy have significantly fewer employment opportunities, earning on average $29,000 less per year than those with proficient reading skills, highlighting how literacy directly impacts lifelong economic security.

Generational Impact: An estimated 130 million adults in the U.S. today are unable to read a simple story to their children. Low literacy among caregivers affects employment opportunities and civic participation, creating a cycle where children lack reading role models at home. Research shows that challenges with literacy directly impact the social and emotional well-being of both children and adults.

These numbers underscore a critical truth: far too many young people are not getting the literacy support they need. The persistent literacy crisis denies countless individuals, children, and adults the opportunity to fully participate in society. It is urgent that we address this crisis now, before another generation is locked out of opportunities.

The Literacy Lab is committed to changing this narrative. We believe every child and adult deserves the chance to unlock their full potential through literacy, and we are taking bold, action-oriented steps to make it happen.

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    The Literacy Lab Model: What We Do

    The Literacy Lab intervenes early, often, and with proven methods to tackle the literacy crisis at its roots. Our approach focuses on three synergistic strategies: offering targeted literacy instruction to young students who need it, supporting families and caregivers with literacy, and developing a new generation of teachers from the communities served. (Note: Our programs currently reach children in pre-K, and we are working toward extending our impact through 5th grade.)

    Comprehensive Early Literacy Instruction

    We place highly trained Fellows in preschools and early childhood centers to provide dedicated daily, individualized literacy instruction. Our Fellows implement a research-backed literacy framework that builds foundational skills such as letter recognition, vocabulary, and phonemic awareness. Each Fellow serves a classroom of students one-on-one,  in small groups, and as a whole class every day, monitoring progress regularly and adjusting instruction based on data. By intervening as early as age 3, we help children gain essential literacy skills before the pivotal third-grade milestone—when students are asked to use their literacy skills to learn across content areas. 

    Our program is designed in partnership with schools and aligns with teachers’ instruction, amplifying the impact on each student’s reading growth. Our staff provide program and coaching support for our Fellows to ensure quality and consistency within and across classrooms. This intensive, daily instructional model not only boosts students’ literacy skills—it also provides encouraging mentorship and individual attention that increase children’s confidence and love of learning.

    Why Our Model Works

    The Literacy Lab’s model is intensive, targeted, and proven. Key elements of our approach include:

    • Evidence-Based Interventions: We utilize proven literacy frameworks and assessments (aligned with the science of reading) to identify gaps and track student progress. Our team continually incorporates research and best practices into work, ensuring every instructional practice is effective.
    • High-Quality Training & Coaching: Fellows undergo rigorous pre-service training and receive ongoing coaching from our staff of literacy experts. This support equips them to provide individualized instruction and also helps them grow as educators. By investing in our Fellows’ professional development, we amplify the impact of their work and set them up for success afterward.
    • Relationships and Consistency: Because Fellows serve every day for an entire school year, they become trusted mentors. They build relationships with students, teachers, and families, creating a supportive web around each child. This consistent presence is something a once-a-week volunteer or computer program cannot replicate. It leads to measurable gains in student confidence and skill.

    Community Partnership: We partner with schools, community organizations, and local leaders to ensure our programs meet local needs. By being embedded in the community, we listen to feedback and tailor our services to fit each context. We have more than 100 community partners across our locations, helping us align with and strengthen local efforts.

    Our Impact: Closing Gaps & Changing Lives

    The Literacy Lab’s dual approach is delivering tangible results for students and communities. We rigorously measure our impact to ensure we are making a difference. Here are a few highlights:

    • Proven Student Gains: Cumulatively, this year, 110 Fellows have served 1730 students across all of the regions we serve. Between the fall and winter assessment periods, the percentage of pre-K students on or near target for kindergarten readiness increased from 30% to 40%, representing a 60% improvement. Principals and teachers see the difference: in surveys, 100% of partner principals reported that The Literacy Lab had a positive impact on students’ literacy skills and on overall classroom instruction. Children tutored by our team gain skills and confidence, setting them on a trajectory for long-term academic success. 

    “I am amazed how my students who work with my Literacy Lab Fellow are able to quickly identify rhyming words and distinguish the difference between words… I attribute that to the work/strategies  my Literacy Lab  Fellow is putting in place for my students.” ~Pre-K Partner Teacher

    • Students Reached at Scale: The Literacy Lab has grown from a local program into a national leader in early literacy intervention. Today, we partner with schools in multiple cities and states to reach as many children as possible. In the 2024–25 school year, over 1,700 children in DC, Maryland, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Ohio are receiving life-changing literacy support through our Fellows. Since our founding in 2009, we have provided individualized reading instruction to more than 40,000 children across the country, helping each one take crucial steps toward reading proficiency.
    • Empowering Future Educators: Through our Fellowship Model, TLL has engaged hundreds of emerging leaders in exploring education careers. Many Fellows go on to college and pursue teaching or education leadership roles after the Fellowship. In this way, our impact ripples outward: every Fellow who becomes a teacher can influence thousands of students over a career, multiplying the effect of the initial investment. Even those who choose other paths leave the program with valuable professional skills, leadership experience, and a lifelong commitment to education. By expanding the teacher pipeline, we are creating more effective learning environments for generations to come. 
    • Return on Investment: Supporting early literacy is one of the highest-impact investments we can make in our society. Studies have shown that every $1 invested in high-quality early childhood education yields roughly $9 in long-term economic benefits to the community (through higher earnings, improved health outcomes, and reduced social costs). By intervening early, The Literacy Lab’s work not only changes the trajectory of a child’s life, but also contributes to stronger schools, a more prepared workforce, and thriving communities. Your support leverages significant public funding as well (our program is built as a public-private partnership), meaning every dollar donated goes further in driving impact on the ground.

    Yet for all these gains, we have only scratched the surface of the need. There are many more children and communities still waiting for support.

    Why Your Support Matters

    The Literacy Lab’s vision for the future is ambitious—and we cannot achieve it without a robust philanthropic partnership. 

    While we are striving to generate some revenue internally, charitable support remains the catalyst that drives our innovation and growth. Every dollar invested by our donors is a vote of confidence in a more self-sustaining and literate future, and we take that trust seriously.

    By supporting The Literacy Lab, you are directly fueling opportunities that change lives. Your investment will enable us to expand our reach, refine our programs, and sustain our mission for the long haul. In particular, your funding will drive progress in several priority areas that are essential to our strategic plan:

    Funding Priorities – What Your Gift Will Make Possible:

    Innovate and Continuously Improve Programs: Invest in innovation and continuous improvement so we can respond to the evolving needs of students, schools, and communities. (For example, developing new curricula, piloting cutting-edge literacy tools, and integrating best practices from research to keep our model at the forefront of effectiveness.)

    Expand Our Reach to More Communities: Scale our programs to serve more students, Fellows, and caregivers in both existing and new markets. This means expanding to additional schools, districts, and cities that are asking for our help—especially in communities with high need.

    Develop Our Fellows & Staff: Invest in the development of our Fellows and staff to cultivate leaders and foster long-term sustainability in the education workforce. Your support helps us provide competitive stipends, excellent training, and leadership development for our Fellows (and professional development for staff). This way, we can attract and retain great people who deliver great results.

    Engage Families and Communities: Deepen our capacity to partner with families and communities to build authentic relationships. We plan to conduct more family workshops, community literacy events, and feedback sessions, ensuring that our work is truly in partnership with the community and is designed for those we serve.

    Advance Access for All in Education: Continue our strong commitment to serving those who need us most internally and externally, to foster a healthy, collaborative organizational culture, and to drive community progress through our work.

    Strengthen Data & Operational Excellence: Improve our data systems and operational processes to drive greater impact. We aim to upgrade our data systems to better track student progress and program outcomes, allowing us to personalize instruction and demonstrate results to stakeholders. Operationally, efficient systems mean donations are managed and utilized with the highest accountability.

    Ensure Financial Sustainability: Build our capacity for robust revenue generation and financial management to ensure our organizational health. This includes growing our development team, pursuing new funding streams (grants, corporate partnerships, individual donors), and maintaining adequate reserves—so that we can weather challenges and be here for the long run. In short, this priority is about making sure TLL can continue serving our communities year after year, even as we grow.

    Each of these priorities is critical to achieving our mission. Together, they form a comprehensive strategy: innovative programs, greater reach, inspired people, community partnership, excellence, and sustainability. 

    Funders like you make it possible to move the needle in all these areas. By investing in The Literacy Lab, you are effectively investing in an organization that is building a better education ecosystem from the ground up—one that will yield returns for children, families, and communities for years to come.

    We are eager to work together to write the next chapter in this story of transformational impact. The best of The Literacy Lab is yet to come—and it will be written by people like you who choose to stand with us.