READING IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE.

What sets Reading Allowed apart from other literacy organizations in Philadelphia?

Reading Allowed is the only literacy nonprofit  in the Philadelphia area that provides high dosage reading instruction delivered by practitioners certified and experienced in the scientifically proven structured literacy approach.

Literacy instruction of this caliber is often cost-prohibitive to those who need it the most. Reading Allowed believes that every struggling reader deserves the highest quality structured literacy instruction regardless of financial circumstances.

Child reading

Reading Allowed is impacting more than 350 individuals of all ages across the Philadelphia area by:

  • Providing individualized structured literacy tutoring on a sliding scale, delivered by 70+ rigorously trained, certified instructors
  • Partnering with underserved school and community organizations.
  • Funding structured literacy certification scholarships.
  • Providing training and professional development opportunities for both our instructors and our community to enhance literacy practice and raise awareness of the literacy crisis in Philadelphia.
The Facts
  • Just over half of Philadelphia adults are functionally illiterate and nearly two thirds are low-literate.
  • People who struggle with reading are more likely to drop out of high school, to experience periods of unemployment, to become involved with the criminal justice system, and to live in poverty.
Statistics
  • 85% of juveniles who interact with the juvenile court system are low literate
  • In 2022, only 31% of 8th graders across Pennsylvania scored at the proficient level or above on the NAEP reading assessment. 1
  • In 2022, Black students had an average score on the NAEP that was 26 points lower than White students.
  • In 2022, Hispanic students had an average score on the NAEP that was 24 points lower than White students.

1https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subject/publications/stt2022/pdf/2023010PA8.pdf

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.

Play Video
Young Adults Reading

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 We Do: Structured Literacy 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.

Children Reading
Play Video

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.

Play Video
PARTNERSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS
Partners logos
What People Are Saying...
My daughter works with Reading Allowed. She loves Ms. Katie and she enjoys the tools she gives her to help her sound out and read words. I see a confidence in her each time she gets off her tutoring session. I am forever grateful for this program!
Reading Allowed Parent
I’m so grateful for the opportunity that my daughter has by joining this Reading program. I want to thank Ms Kelly, her teacher, and the whole team behind this great program that has allowed my daughter to be able to read as a normal 5th grader. She is no longer afraid and shy about reading out loud. Thank you.
Reading Allowed Parent
Reading Allowed is fantastic and has helped me find the perfect tutor for my son and has worked with me through the scheduling struggles I have come across during virtual school and returning in person etc. I appreciate Reading Allowed so much and can not praise them enough.
Reading Allowed Parent
Skip to content