Program Description
Hoot Reading provides online, one-to-one literacy instruction delivered by trained teachers. Tutoring sessions take place over video call through the company’s proprietary platform, which was developed through an earlier research collaboration involving the Nokia Research Lab, Sesame Workshop, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. Hoot Reading works with school districts across North America to advance student reading achievement.
Program Outcomes
Hoot Reading was evaluated in a student-level randomized controlled trial in Kansas City Public Schools during the 2024–25 school year with 1,384 students in grades 1–4. The sample included 956 MTSS Tier III students, the intended recipients of the program, and 428 Tier II students as tutoring space permitted. The student population was 47% Black, 41% Hispanic, 38% English learners, and 56% economically disadvantaged. Among Tier III students, those assigned to Hoot Reading significantly outperformed their control peers on the i-Ready assessment (effect size = +0.08). These results qualify Hoot Reading-MTSS Tier III for a Strong rating.
It should be noted that no positive effects were found for MTSS Tier II students, and impacts on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) for grades 3–4 were positive but not statistically significant.
Staffing Requirements
Tutors are provided by Hoot Reading; school staff are required to supervise the program at each location.
Professional Development/Training
All tutors are experienced classroom teachers with Bachelor’s, Master’s, or a Ph.D. and are highly qualified in early literacy instruction. Hoot Reading provides professional development that includes literacy instruction, trauma-informed teaching, and teaching reading remotely.
Technology
Computers or tablets with reliable internet access and headphones are required for students to participate in virtual tutoring. Tutoring is delivered through a web application via an internet browser.