Program Description
Ignite Reading is a one-to-one virtual literacy tutoring program designed to address early reading skill gaps in young learners through high-dosage, individualized instruction. The program pairs students with highly-trained reading tutors for daily 15-minute sessions focused on foundational literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and fluency, using a structured and research-based instructional sequence. Schools are supported by literacy specialists who monitor progress and provide detailed data reports to educators. The program integrates with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and aligns with Science of Reading principles.
Program Outcomes
The effectiveness of Ignite Reading was evaluated in a retrospective study across several Massachusetts districts during the 2023-24 school year. The study included over 1,000 first-grade students, of whom 39% were Hispanic, 39% English learners, 39% White, 16% received special education services, and 14% were Black. Participating students received 15-minute daily virtual tutoring sessions focused on foundational literacy skills, while control groups continued with standard classroom instruction. After one year, tutored students outperformed matched controls on the DIBELS assessment (ES = +0.21), equivalent to 0.9 additional months of learning. Higher attendance rates were associated with greater gains, and subgroup analyses indicated particularly strong outcomes for English learners (ES = +0.31) and Black students (ES = +0.24). These results qualify Ignite Reading for an ESSA “Promising” rating.
Staffing Requirements
Partners select an Ignite Reading District Champion and School Champion to oversee the implementation of the program in school buildings. Champions facilitate communication between Ignite Reading and school staff about program logistics and student progress. Champions also support students to meet attendance goals. Ignite Reading a) hires and manages all tutors, b) provides a literacy specialist who oversees student outcomes and reports data to district and school staff monthly, and c) provides a dedicated customer success manager who helps with scheduling tutoring, technology set up, and any implementation support required throughout the program.
Professional Development/Training
Ignite Reading manages all student instruction using an evidence-based curriculum, and an experienced literacy specialist oversees student outcomes — school and district staff do not require professional development for the program implementation. During monthly data meetings, the Ignite Reading literacy specialist provides detailed insights into student progress and gaps to help teachers reinforce skills in the classroom; student report cards are also provided for teachers to share students’ progress with their families.
Technology
Ignite Reading is 100% virtual, facilitated through a FERPA-compliant video conferencing platform. This platform streamlines tutor scheduling logistics behind the scenes and enables single sign-on for students. There is an interactive whiteboard that is used for instruction. Ignite Reading is Clever and ClassLink compatible. Students may use a tablet, desktop, or laptop computer to login to tutoring sessions, headphones are required (Ignite Reading offers them for purchase), and schools need to ensure an internet speed of at least 5Mb/s download, and at least 3Mb/s upload per student.