AUTUMN RIVER – Fall River Public Schools announced an innovative new partnership with Turn on reading to provide virtual one-on-one literacy tutoring to 300 first grade students in six schools this fall. Nationally, Ignite Reading students have recorded an average of more than two weeks of reading growth per week, with no achievement gap for students of color, students with IEPs, multilingual students, or students receiving free or reduced-price lunches .
Ignite Reading officials joined Fall River leaders and students at Mary L. Fonseca Elementary School today to showcase the nationally recognized program. The demonstration was followed by a question and answer session. Ignite Reading now serves students in 60 schools across the state.
“We are delighted to announce an innovative new collaboration with Ignite Reading. Given how participating students have strengthened their foundational reading skills in Massachusetts and nationally with Ignite Reading, we are optimistic that this program will drive literacy progress in Fall River,” he said. Stephanie Kennedy, Director of K-12 English Language Arts, Fall River Public Schools.
“Partnering with Ignite Reading has given us the opportunity to provide high-dose tutoring to our students in a way that would not otherwise be possible,” he said Dr. Tracy Curley, Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer, Fall River Public Schools.
Ignite Reading pairs students with expert tutors who provide daily 15-minute instruction based on the science of reading to help them master key foundational skills that prepare them to become independent readers. The one-on-one virtual program integrates seamlessly into the school day and eases the burden on teachers by providing individualized instruction for each student.
The company is now teaching thousands of students to read in eight states and has plans to expand nationwide. In addition to Massachusetts, Ignite Reading is partnering with schools and districts to serve thousands of students in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, New York and Oregon this fall.
“We are excited to expand our collaboration with Fall River schools to equip hundreds of local students with improved literacy skills. Through Ignite Reading’s individualized tutoring model, students across the country are exceeding expected benchmarks, making more than two weeks of reading progress for each week of the program. In addition to improved literacy, we are also witnessing a significant and positive socio-emotional impact. “It is a privilege to serve the exceptional students, families and educational institutions of Fall River,” he said. Jessica Reid Sliwerski, Founder and CEO of Ignite Reading.
About Turn on reading
Ignite Reading’s mission is to ensure that every student is a confident, independent reader by the end of first grade. The organization was co-founded by CEO Jessica Reid Sliwerski and Evan Marwell, CEO of Ignite and CEO of EducationSuperHighway. Ignite Reading pairs schools with a dedicated literacy specialist and a team of virtual reading tutors, all highly trained in the Science of Reading, who provide personalized daily instruction to students focused on their specific decoding gaps. Ignite’s data-driven approach, delivered by caring, knowledgeable tutors, gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive as fluent readers. The Ignite Reading program, delivered 15 minutes per day during a school’s literacy block, removes the burden of differentiated instruction from teachers and has an immediate impact. For more information about Ignite Reading, visit: www.ignite-reading.com
About Fall River Public Schools
As an urban Gateway district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Fall River Public Schools (FRPS) student population is ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. Of the 10,987 students in Fall River Public Schools, 86% of students are identified as High Needs. Of all students, 23.1% are English learners, 25.9% are students with disabilities, and 79.9% are economically disadvantaged. Our student population is 44.1% White, 31.8% Hispanic, 11.9% African American, 8.7% Multiracial/Non-Hispanic, 3.3% Asian, and 0.2% Native American.
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