About Us
ReadingAllowed began in 2019 as a vision to empower struggling readers of all ages with the gift of literacy. Over the past five years, we have transformed that vision into a thriving reality. With a dedicated team of educators and community partners, Reading Allowed has grown from a small initiative into a cornerstone of literacy support in our region.
Reading Allowed is the only literacy nonprofit in Philadelphia to provide structured literacy tutoring delivered by certified and experienced tutors. High quality structured literacy tutoring is cost-prohibitive for many students and we are committed to breaking down this barrier. Reading Allowed ensures that this high-caliber instruction is accessible to all struggling readers, regardless of financial circumstances. It is the quality of our instruction and our dedication to equity that set us apart from other literacy organizations.
Our Growth and Impact Since our inception, we have:
- Expanded our services to reach over 700 learners, providing one-on-one tutoring and small group sessions
- Established partnerships with local schools, libraries, and community centers to bring literacy programs directly to those in need.
- Trained over 45 tutors to use evidence-based teaching methods that ensure measurable progress for every learner.
Our Approach At Reading Allowed, we believe that literacy is not just a skill—it’s a gateway to opportunity. Our programs are:
- Individualized: Tailored to meet each learner’s unique needs.
- Inclusive: Serving diverse populations, including children with learning differences and adults seeking to improve their skills.
- Innovative: Incorporating the latest research and technology to maximize learning outcomes.
Together, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to read, learn, and thrive.
Our mission is to provide struggling readers of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay, with individualized evidence based structured literacy instruction in schools, prisons and communities, delivered by highly trained instructors. We are dedicated to promptly identifying children at risk of reading failure, providing appropriate instruction and sharing the tools to implement best practices.
Equity: We provide access to the highest quality literacy instruction regardless of financial circumstances. This will help to combat systemic injustices.
Inclusion: Everyone, of any age, actual and perceived gender, race, ethnicity, religion, orientation and circumstance, is welcome.
Respect: We treat all stakeholders with the utmost respect and value all points of view.
Compassion: We recognize that each person comes to us with their own story and we work hard to understand and empathize to ensure the best possible outcome.
Quality: We are committed to providing the highest quality instruction and to ensuring we are up to date with the latest developments in the science of reading.
