GreenLight Fund Greater Newark and Reading Partners on Tuesday announced it is recruiting tutors to help improve early-literacy outcomes in the Brick City.
Recent test results show that reading proficiency remains stagnant in Newark, and Reading Partners has been mobilizing communities across the nation for more than 25 years to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.
“GreenLight Fund Greater Newark is supporting Reading Partners’ proven program model because we are committed to addressing Newark’s literacy crisis,” GreenLight Fund Greater Newark Executive Director Tish Johnson-Jones, said. “It is imperative for all of us to step in and support our next generation of leaders by becoming a literacy tutor through Reading Partners today. By signing up to become a tutor, you and someone you know can help strengthen the literacy skills necessary to prepare our youth for lifelong success.”
Last year, GreenLight Fund Greater Newark invested $600,000 to bring Reading Partners’ evidence-based program model to Greater Newark.
GreenLight Fund Greater Newark’s investment in the Reading Partners program was informed by a year-long selection process conducted in partnership with the local Selection Advisory Council (SAC), a diverse group of talented residents, leaders and experts from various fields.
After searching the country, the SAC selected Reading Partners based on its collaborative approach that prioritizes evidence-based methods and transparent student progress monitoring, demonstrated through real-world impact.
According to the 2024 New Jersey State Learning Assessments (NJSLA) exam, only 23% of third grade students in Newark are reading at grade level, compared to the statewide average of 44%. Third grade is a pivotal year for reading proficiency, where students make the critical transition from learning to read to reading to learn.
“Reading Partners is excited to start recruiting tutors in Newark to help improve literacy rates and outcomes for our youth,” Adeola Whitney, CEO, Reading Partners said. “Reading is a civil right, and we look forward to working with dedicated community members who are interested in using our step-by-step curriculum to provide high-quality instruction to Newark students in order to help close the literacy opportunity gap.”
Led by Dr. Naima Ricks, who was recently hired as managing director of partnerships and growth for Newark, Reading Partners will help recruit paid and volunteer tutors who will deliver personalized literacy instruction (in-person and online) to an estimated 4,500 students and facilitate family literacy workshops for 3,700 families over the next 4 years.
The goal is that over 80% of students engaged will reach their annual literacy growth goals.
In addition, Reading Partners will collaborate with schools and community organizations in Newark to empower them to implement our evidence-based program within their communities to support student learning.
