The Southeast Delco School District is partnering with READ Alliance to provide literacy tutoring for 1st- and 2nd-grade students.
Now in its 25th year, READ Alliance (READ) is a New York-based organization that has expanded in Pennsylvania over the last five years. READ is dedicated to accelerating the learning of young students by harnessing the power of teens to teach one-on-one literacy lessons. The program will hire, train, and pay 15 students from Academy Park High School to provide literacy and phonics instruction to 30 1st and 2nd graders at Sharon Hill Elementary.
“We are excited to partner with READ Alliance to provide additional literacy instruction for our youngest learners,” said Superintendent Dr. Yamil Sanchez Rivera. “This program will serve the dual purpose of educating our elementary students and empowering our high school students to teach, lead, and improve their own reading skills.”
Once selected, the high school students (called Teen Leaders) will receive ongoing training focused on phonics instruction, data collection, and behavior management. The program mirrors teacher training, providing high schoolers with an introduction to a career in education. Three Southeast Delco teachers will provide oversight and support.
The READ Alliance program will provide each elementary student with 45 focused one-on-one tutoring sessions after school during the school year. Students will also have access to a lending library, allowing them to check out books for continued practice at home.
In 2024, more than 1,200 unique early elementary students receiving tutoring through READ Alliance in three states saw measurable improvement in their reading skills. Nearly 60 percent of these students advanced by an entire grade level in reading after completing the program.
The Southeast Delco School District is set to launch the READ Alliance program in February 2025. More information is available at https://www.sedelco.org/o/sdsd/page/read-alliance-program.