Since our launch in 2015, Read Charlotte has partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and funders to make investments in evidence-informed programs and practices that help children read proficiently by third grade. Read on to learn more about our early reading initiatives.
Well-trained, well-equipped, and well-supported PK-3 teachers are the best frontline response to improve children’s reading development. We know that critical inputs like English language arts standards, strong curricula, professional development, intervention, and data-driven decision-making are important components of our PK-3 educational system. Our review of high-quality experimental studies uncovered 10 drivers of effective reading instruction – evidence-based principles that can (and should) be used across curricula, interventions, and programs. The strategies we support in this area of focus have strong evidence of helping educators use these inputs and take actions proven to help children learn to read. When effectively used, these strategies can turbocharge Tier 1, 2, and 3 instruction across a variety of curricular and pedagogical approaches.
Active Reading, the evidence-informed practice of reading with children, rather than to them, can be used in classrooms to boost vocabulary and comprehension skills.
HELPS, an evidence-based intervention that improves students’ reading fluency, can be used by educators in small group contexts.
HELPS, an evidence-based intervention that improves students’ reading fluency, can be used by educators in one-on-one contexts.
Sound Partners is a high-quality, evidence-based code-focused intervention that can be used by educators to assist students who need help with word reading.
One-on-one and small group tutoring by trained and supported adults is one of the few proven universal strategies to improve children’s reading. High-dosage tutoring – two to three sessions a week – is more effective. Even better is high-impact tutoring where at least 50% of the students served exceed expected baseline reading growth and more tutoring sessions lead to greater gains. We support a set of evidence-based and research-based tutoring models that are continuously evaluated to demonstrate impact.
The Augustine Literacy Project provides one-on-one customized tutoring aligned with the Science of Reading.
HELPS, an evidence-based intervention that improves students’ reading fluency, can be used by volunteers in one-on-one contexts.
Queen City Readers is a turnkey tool designed to target basic word reading skills covered in the kindergarten and first grade years. Queen City Readers is grounded in an evidence-based, systematic approach to phonics instruction called synthetic phonics.
Sound Partners is a high-quality, evidence-based code-focused intervention that can be used by trained volunteers to assist students who need help with word reading.
This initiative adds reading instruction to summer camp programs to help combat summer learning loss.
Tutor Charlotte is a community initiative to help connect volunteers with effective tutoring organizations in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Family members are children’s first teachers and play a critical role in their reading development. Strong research shows the actions families can take in conjunction with schools and out-of-school programs to help their children learn to read. We aim to provide families (and groups that support them) with the knowledge and confidence to support reading at home, through user-friendly resources that meet the individual needs of each child.
Active Reading, the evidence-informed practice of reading with children, rather than to them, can be used by families to boost vocabulary and comprehension skills.
HomeReadingHelper.org is a free children’s reading website, with games, activities, and printables by grade level.
This program trains healthcare providers to engage parents in reading aloud and to prescribe books to children at wellness check-ups.
Reading together is a simple yet powerful way to help children learn about language and the world, and build literacy skills that will help them be successful in school.
Ready4K is a research-based text-messaging program for parents with young children, with tips and ideas to boost learning.
Read Charlotte is a community initiative that unites educators, community partners, and families to improve children’s reading from birth to third grade. We don’t run programs. We are a capacity-building intermediary that supports local partners to apply evidence-based knowledge about effective reading instruction and interventions, high-quality execution, continuous improvement, and data analysis to improve reading outcomes.
Read Charlotte is a civic initiative of Foundation For The Carolinas.
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