Program Description
OpenLiteracy is a one-to-one virtual reading tutoring program for students in the elementary grades, built on the science of reading. Certified teachers deliver the tutoring through a secure video platform, meeting with each student three or four times a week for 25-minute lessons during the school day. Lessons target decoding and reading comprehension and are shaped by ongoing assessment data, including CORE Phonics and DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency along with lesson exit tickets. Each student follows a personalized learning plan built from a proprietary curriculum. The Foundations curriculum is aligned to the UFLI scope and sequence and covers foundational skills and comprehension. The Non-Fiction Navigators curriculum builds background knowledge, comprehension, fluency and vocabulary. Language Lab and Newcomers curricula add support for English Learners. Tutors are certified teachers with classroom teaching experience in grades K-6.
Program Outcomes
A randomized controlled trial in Oakland Unified School District evaluated OpenLiteracy with 853 students in grades 1 to 5 across 23 elementary schools. The sample was 61% English Learners, 58% Latino, 17% African American and 7% White, with 13% receiving special education services. Students were randomly assigned within their schools to be offered OpenLiteracy tutoring or to a control group. Control students received regular classroom instruction plus the district’s Tier 2 small-group literacy support. Tutoring ran three sessions a week at 30 minutes, and students attended an average of 58 sessions over the year, about 27 hours of instruction. After one school year, students offered OpenLiteracy scored significantly higher in reading comprehension on the iReady assessment, with an effect size of +0.11. Effects on other iReady and DIBELS measures were not statistically significant. Results held steady across student groups, with no meaningful differences by race, English Learner status, gender or grade. Students who started furthest behind benefited most, with an effect size of +0.16 for those beginning two grade levels below on iReady. These results qualify OpenLiteracy for a Strong rating.
Staffing Requirements
Schools designate a tutoring monitor to supervise students during virtual 1:1 sessions. This is typically an existing staff member and requires no additional hiring.
Professional Development/Training
OpenLiteracy tutors are certified teachers with an average of 15 years of classroom experience, supported by a coaching and professional development model designed to ensure strong outcomes for every student.
Before working with students, tutors complete approximately 15 hours of synchronous and asynchronous onboarding. From there, support is ongoing. Tutor Ambassadors, senior tutors with a proven track record of strong outcomes, are available as mentors to answer questions and share best practices. Each tutor is observed a minimum of twice annually using a science of reading aligned coaching framework that highlights strengths and identifies specific areas for growth, ensuring every tutor feels supported.
Technology
- A device with a camera and microphone (laptop, Chromebook, tablet)
- Stable internet connection with capability for streaming video
- A supported browser (usually Chrome or Edge)
- Headphones in settings where multiple students are tutoring simultaneously