READING IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE.
- Illiteracy is an alarming problem in Philadelphia that exacerbates existing issues of racial and economic inequality.
- Just over half of Philadelphia adults are functionally illiterate and nearly two-thirds are low-literate, reading at just a middle-school grade level.
- Literacy affects the way we learn, work and interact with those around us. Poor literacy is a barrier to social and economic stability.
- People who struggle with reading are more likely to drop out of high school, to experience periods of unemployment, to end up in the criminal justice system, and to live in poverty.
- A low literacy level at a young age can have a lifelong impact that includes poor physical and mental health, limited employment opportunities and lower quality of life.
We interviewed the film and tv star Ameer Baraka and learned about his humble beginnings and how his struggles with reading and undiagnosed dyslexia caused a downward spiral to life on the streets and then to prison. View his inspiring story.
What is Reading Allowed doing to change the literacy landscape of Philadelphia?
- Reading Allowed is serving many children and adult struggling readers across Philadelphia. Many have been unable to succeed in the classroom or receive any specific interventions through their school and need the specialized tutoring Reading Allowed provides.
- Reading Allowed tutors are rigorously trained, closely vetted professionals who are certified in the most effective methods of structured literacy practices based on scientific research and who are committed to staying up to date with evolving literacy research.
- Reading Allowed’s fees are based on a sliding scale to ensure that every student, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to the high-quality instruction that they need and deserve.
Quality, Structured Literacy Tutoring regardless of financial circumstances.
Reading Allowed believes that every struggling reader deserves the highest quality structured literacy instruction regardless of financial circumstances. Instruction is delivered by caring and compassionate tutors who have been rigorously trained and certified in the most effective methods of structured literacy practices based on scientific research. Our hope is that all struggling readers become lifelong and joyous readers and writers.
What Makes Reading Allowed Different??
According to a recent report directed by The William Penn Foundation, Reading Allowed is the only intervention program in the Philadelphia area that provides high quality certified tutors for individualized, one-on-one instruction.
Reading Allowed believes that every struggling reader deserves the highest quality structured literacy instruction regardless of financial circumstances. Instruction is delivered by caring and compassionate tutors who have been rigorously trained and certified in the most effective methods of structured literacy practices based on scientific research. Our hope is that all struggling readers become lifelong and joyous readers and writers.
Hilderbrand Pelzer III talks about the school to prison pipeline and why Reading Allowed’s work is so important.
Dr. Lori Severino talks about structured literacy and why it’s so important.
