Ignite Reading
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| Grade Levels | Group Size | Tutor Type | Qualifying Studies | Average Effect Size |
| 1 | 1:1 | External Staff | 1 | +0.21 |
Contact Info
jessica.sliwerski@ignite-reading.com
| Groups Studied | |
|---|---|
| Black | |
| Hispanic | |
| White | |
| Asian American | |
| English Learners | |
| Free and Reduced Lunch |
| Communities Studied | |
|---|---|
| Urban | |
| Suburban | |
| Rural |
Program Description
Ignite Reading delivers 1:1 virtual tutoring for 15 minutes daily that teaches students who require extra support the foundational skills they need to become confident, fluent readers by the end of 1st grade. Ignite Reading provides districts with a dedicated literacy specialist and a team of highly trained, accountable tutors who deliver differentiated instruction that’s data-driven, aligned to the Science of Reading, and designed to close foundational skills gaps, so kids can successfully transition from learning to read to reading to learn.
Ignite Reading has been proven effective in schools that have a demonstrated commitment to providing regular classroom instruction that is aligned to the science of reading (SoR), specifically an aligned core ELA curriculum and SoR-based professional learning for classroom teachers.
Tutors
Tutors are part-time Ignite Reading employees who have previous experience working with children and a commitment to the organization’s mission, among other qualifications.
Ignite Reading tutors are selected from a competitive pool of applicants, undergo background checks, and complete a 6-week training program comprising over 100 hours of paid professional learning. This program includes instruction in the Science of Reading, a foundational reading skills curriculum, and an intensive practicum experience with individualized coaching and feedback.
Students
First grade students performing below grade level, including multilingual learners, students with IEPs, and historically marginalized groups can benefit from Ignite Reading.
Technology
The program is delivered virtually and requires a computer with a reliable internet connection and headphones.
Curriculum
A trained literacy tutor delivers remotely a differentiated, sequenced, research-based instructional plan designed to develop students’ early-literacy skills, related basic alphabetic knowledge, phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and fluency. Ignite Reading literacy specialists coordinate the tutoring’s ongoing delivery.
Assessments
Virtual tutoring is facilitated through a web-based program that collects detailed data on student progress, informs instruction, and enables progress monitoring. Student progress reports are provided to schools and teachers.
Ignite Reading tutors conduct DIBELS-aligned baseline, middle-of-year, and end-of-year screeners that add an additional layer of progress monitoring.
Program Operation
Students in need of additional support are selected for the Ignite Reading program by the school. Each student meets virtually 1:1 with a consistent tutor daily for targeted 15-minute sessions. Districts that successfully implemented the program committed to having 90% of students achieve an average student attendance rate (to tutoring sessions) of at least 75% and launching the program early in the school year to ensure a full year of implementation.
The following support staff ensure successful implementation and ongoing tutor support:
Literacy Specialists employed by Ignite Reading collaborate with tutors to ensure students receive targeted, individualized instruction and provide monthly student progress data reports to districts and schools.
An Ignite Reading Customer Success Manager works closely with the District and School Champion (see below). Main activities include coordinating pre-launch activities, developing implementation policy guidance when needed, troubleshooting areas of concern across the implementation, and creating a predictable flow of information to district- and school-based personnel that is related to program milestones
A District Champion is accountable for district-level decisions and coordination across schools.
School Champions for each participating school are typically current staff members who receive a stipend for committing up to three hours per week to serve as the point of contact at the school and address any on-site implementation needs. Districts in the research study participated in convenings throughout the year that were organized by the customer success manager. The purpose of the convenings was to support consistent implementation across multiple districts backed by the same funding partner, enabling the uniform review of implementation components and milestones as well as the sharing of best practices.
Professional Development, Progress Monitoring, and Follow-up
All Ignite Reading tutors need to successfully complete Ignite Reading’s training to deliver the reading intervention. Tutor training is delivered through a combination of asynchronous and live courses with opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills mastery through rigorous written and assignment-based assessments.
Tutors begin training by engaging in knowledge-building experiences centered around Scarborough’s Reading Rope (Scarborough, et. al), Differentiated Instruction (Walpole & McKenna), and the Science of Reading (Gillon, Raynor, Foorman, Perfettti, Pesetsky & Seidenberg). After building this foundation, tutors are then provided direct instruction in Ignite Reading’s pedagogical model, grounded in this research, to effectively deliver both internal and field-recognized standard assessments (DIBELS) and to assess, monitor, and respond to student performance during sessions. All Ignite Reading tutors are trained in multimodal techniques, also known as Total Physical Response techniques, in order to teach English Language Learners using physical cues (e.g., cupping your ear to indicate you want a student to speak, mimicking writing with a pencil if you need a student to write). Tutors are also coached on how to build relationships with students who have significant foundational reading skills gaps.
To ensure tutors are fully equipped to support students, tutors work with a small sample of students during their practicum period (which comprises 40 hours of the 100 hours of training) where they are routinely observed and provided differentiated coaching on their instructional delivery of the Ignite Reading tutoring model. Content is curated to ensure tutors gradually move from a foundational application of how to deliver high quality lessons, baseline assessments, progress monitoring, and formative assessments to synthesis level thinking to ensure they can properly identify when and how to reteach content to ensure student mastery before introducing new skills.
Costs
$2,500 per tutoring seat for a full-year program. Partial-year pilot programs will be prorated. If a student graduates mid-program, another student may take their place at no additional cost during the program term.
Additional Resources as Implemented in the Research Study:
- The program manager role (part-time or full-time depending on size of implementation)
- Time of existing district personnel to serve as champions
- Stipend for each school champion
- Planning and hosting convenings for participating schools to share best practices around implementation
Research on Program Outcomes
The impact of Ignite Reading was examined in a two-group quasi-experimental study conducted in multiple Massachusetts school districts during the 2023-24 academic year. The analysis involved 1,036 first-grade students, with 39% identified as Hispanic, 39% as English learners, 39% as White, 16% receiving special education services, and 14% as Black. Students in the intervention group participated in daily 15-minute virtual tutoring sessions focused on foundational literacy skills, while the control group continued with regular classroom instruction. After one year, students who received tutoring outperformed their peers in the control group on the DIBELS assessment (effect size = +0.21).
Key Studies
Neitzel, A. J., & Reilly, J. (2024). An evaluation of Ignite Reading virtual literacy tutoring in Massachusetts. Center for Research and Reform in Education, The Johns Hopkins University.