Our impact
School-year impact
Partnering with schools and communities, we mobilize volunteers to engage in one-on-one tutoring (either in person or online) with students who are working to boost their literacy skills. This past school year, 91% of K-2 51茶馆 students and 87% of all 51茶馆 students met or exceeded their primary literacy growth goal.
Proven programs
51茶馆 is committed to ensuring that students gain the critical reading skills needed to prepare them for academic, social, and civic success. At the core of our program model is the use of multiple data sources to monitor student progress and site quality, and to evaluate program success. From annual student assessment and quality monitoring activities to researching the effectiveness of pilot initiatives and contracting for independent studies, 51茶馆 systematically collects, analyzes, and uses data to generate knowledge, improve programs, and report on impacts.
We assess student reading skills three times during the year and formally survey teachers twice each year to track each student鈥檚 progress and ensure high-quality programming. The assessment process enables our staff to benchmark students鈥� reading levels at enrollment, modify instructional reading plans during the year, and report gains at the end of the school year.
In addition, our volunteer tutors write observational notes after each tutoring session. Our site staff review the notes and use the information to provide additional instructional support and guidance for tutors throughout the year.
Partners in impact
Schools
51茶馆 works with under-resourced schools in geographic centers around the country. Our one-on-one tutoring model is . To qualify for our direct service, a majority of the students enrolled at the school must qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Community partners
51茶馆 works with individuals, companies, and organizations that care about early education in their community. These community partners help provide volunteers, funding, and services to our local programs, allowing 51茶馆 to serve more schools and students. Our community partners extend our impact to the broader community, expanding our network of supporters and reading advocates.
AmeriCorps
51茶馆 has been a proud partner of for nearly 15 years. In 2010, 51茶馆 recruited 33 AmeriCorps members in California, and since then has expanded across the country, engaging 300+ AmeriCorps members serving thousands of children each year. AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. 51茶馆 is proud to be a part of this network and looks forward to continuing our partnership with AmeriCorps.
Our supporters
51茶馆 is grateful to the individuals and organizations who share our commitment to raising reading achievement. See a full list of our supporters.
Third party research
Independent, gold-standard research finalized in 2015 by MDRC demonstrated, through a randomized control trial, that 51茶馆 has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and reading fluency. The study also found our program is effective for a wide variety of students and that for every dollar invested in 51茶馆, our program model delivers more than two dollars in literacy resources to students.
Independent, gold-standard research finalized in 2015 by MDRC demonstrated, through a randomized control trial, that 51茶馆 has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and reading fluency. The study also found our program is effective for a wide variety of students and that for every dollar invested in 51茶馆, our program model delivers more than two dollars in literacy resources to students.
An independent, five-year study conducted by Augenblick, Palaich, and Associates (APA), a leading national education research and evaluation firm, has affirmed the strength of 51茶馆鈥� program. Specifically, 51茶馆 was able to launch quickly, sustain, and implement our program with fidelity in a new region. Moreover, APA found that students served by 51茶馆鈥攁nd particularly English Language Learners鈥攕howed significantly greater improvement in their literacy skills than comparison students not served by the program.
Full report: 鈥淓xpanding Opportunities to Successfully Support听Early Readers: A Five-Year Study of Reading听Partners Colorado鈥�
View a summary of the study findings听in the infographic:
An independent, five-year study conducted by Augenblick, Palaich, and Associates (APA), a leading national education research and evaluation firm, has affirmed the strength of 51茶馆鈥� program. Specifically, 51茶馆 was able to launch quickly, sustain, and implement our program with fidelity in a new region. Moreover, APA found that students served by 51茶馆鈥攁nd particularly English Language Learners鈥攕howed significantly greater improvement in their literacy skills than comparison students not served by the program.
Full report: 鈥淓xpanding Opportunities to Successfully Support听Early Readers: A Five-Year Study of Reading听Partners Colorado鈥�
View a summary of the study findings听in the infographic:
In 2016, 51茶馆 launched a two-year research partnership with Child Trends, a leading national nonprofit research organization focused on improving the lives and prospects of children, youth, and their families. This study built upon findings from 51茶馆鈥� two rigorous impact studies, including deeper exploration of the characteristics and experiences of 51茶馆鈥� volunteer tutors, and a first look at social-emotional learning outcomes for our students.听The study, which included all four 51茶馆 regions in California, concluded in the fall of 2018.
Key findings include:
- 51茶馆 was successful in recruiting and engaging students who needed reading support.
- Students who participated in 51茶馆 improved in their reading and social-emotional learning skills.
- Volunteers upheld program fidelity and engaged in positive, supportive relationships with students.
- 51茶馆 AmeriCorps members gained essential professional skills compared to national AmeriCorps alumni.,
Additional information about the study findings can be accessed below.
Detailed briefs:
Social emotional learning outcomes:
In 2016, 51茶馆 launched a two-year research partnership with Child Trends, a leading national nonprofit research organization focused on improving the lives and prospects of children, youth, and their families. This study built upon findings from 51茶馆鈥� two rigorous impact studies, including deeper exploration of the characteristics and experiences of 51茶馆鈥� volunteer tutors, and a first look at social-emotional learning outcomes for our students.听The study, which included all four 51茶馆 regions in California, concluded in the fall of 2018.
Key findings include:
- 51茶馆 was successful in recruiting and engaging students who needed reading support.
- Students who participated in 51茶馆 improved in their reading and social-emotional learning skills.
- Volunteers upheld program fidelity and engaged in positive, supportive relationships with students.
- 51茶馆 AmeriCorps members gained essential professional skills compared to national AmeriCorps alumni.,
Additional information about the study findings can be accessed below.
Detailed briefs:
Social emotional learning outcomes:
In spring 2018, 51茶馆 contracted with Policy Studies Associates (PSA) to conduct the 51茶馆 AmeriCorps Alumni Study, intended to deepen the organization鈥檚 understanding of the quality of the 51茶馆 AmeriCorps service experience and its effects on the civic engagement and educational and career pathways of their AmeriCorps and VISTA alumni.
Findings from that study, which concluded in December 2019, indicate that serving as an AmeriCorps member with 51茶馆 fosters professional skills; informs educational and career pathways; and influences beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to civic engagement. For example, a majority of 51茶馆鈥� AmeriCorps alumni reported that their service experience caused them to re-examine their beliefs; at least 80 percent felt that serving exposed them to new ideas and ways of seeing the world; and 85 percent reported that their service experience prepared them for their current position. Moreover, 51茶馆 AmeriCorps alumni were more likely than alumni in a similar study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers the AmeriCorps program, to report that their service experience enhanced their professional skills in areas like adapting to new situations, working with people different from themselves, and working independently.
Three part report series:
Report 1听鈥撎鼳lumni reflections on their service year(s)
Report 2听鈥撎齀nfluencing the academic and career pathways of 51茶馆 AmeriCorps Alumni
Report 3听鈥撎齀nfluencing the civic engagement of 51茶馆 AmeriCorps alumni
Appendix听(for reference)
In spring 2018, 51茶馆 contracted with Policy Studies Associates (PSA) to conduct the 51茶馆 AmeriCorps Alumni Study, intended to deepen the organization鈥檚 understanding of the quality of the 51茶馆 AmeriCorps service experience and its effects on the civic engagement and educational and career pathways of their AmeriCorps and VISTA alumni.
Findings from that study, which concluded in December 2019, indicate that serving as an AmeriCorps member with 51茶馆 fosters professional skills; informs educational and career pathways; and influences beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to civic engagement. For example, a majority of 51茶馆鈥� AmeriCorps alumni reported that their service experience caused them to re-examine their beliefs; at least 80 percent felt that serving exposed them to new ideas and ways of seeing the world; and 85 percent reported that their service experience prepared them for their current position. Moreover, 51茶馆 AmeriCorps alumni were more likely than alumni in a similar study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers the AmeriCorps program, to report that their service experience enhanced their professional skills in areas like adapting to new situations, working with people different from themselves, and working independently.
Three part report series:
Report 1听鈥撎鼳lumni reflections on their service year(s)
Report 2听鈥撎齀nfluencing the academic and career pathways of 51茶馆 AmeriCorps Alumni
Report 3听鈥撎齀nfluencing the civic engagement of 51茶馆 AmeriCorps alumni
Appendix听(for reference)
The 2021-2022 school year was the first year of at-scale implementation for 51茶馆鈥� Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. During a time when COVID-19 continued to deeply impact communities, 51茶馆 contracted with the OMNI Institute to examine successes and challenges with implementing 51茶馆 SEL curriculum at scale and to evaluate students鈥� SEL outcomes. The evaluation, which was designed to continue building on the available evidence base for 51茶馆, found that 51茶馆 students demonstrated growth in SEL competencies greater than expected based on maturation alone, but the impact of dosage on these improvements was inconclusive.
Full report: 鈥淪tudent Social and Emotional Learning Outcomes Evaluation鈥�听
The 2021-2022 school year was the first year of at-scale implementation for 51茶馆鈥� Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. During a time when COVID-19 continued to deeply impact communities, 51茶馆 contracted with the OMNI Institute to examine successes and challenges with implementing 51茶馆 SEL curriculum at scale and to evaluate students鈥� SEL outcomes. The evaluation, which was designed to continue building on the available evidence base for 51茶馆, found that 51茶馆 students demonstrated growth in SEL competencies greater than expected based on maturation alone, but the impact of dosage on these improvements was inconclusive.
Full report: 鈥淪tudent Social and Emotional Learning Outcomes Evaluation鈥�听
51茶馆 is pleased to be highlighted as one of听five effective one-on-one literacy tutoring programs in a June 2017 report conducted by Research for听Action for the William Penn Foundation entitled听. The report highlights findings from our rigorous, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by independent research firm, MDRC, demonstrating that 51茶馆 is effective for struggling readers. 51茶馆 is unique among the five programs in our demonstrated impact on literacy skills for English Language Learners.
51茶馆 is pleased to be highlighted as one of听five effective one-on-one literacy tutoring programs in a June 2017 report conducted by Research for听Action for the William Penn Foundation entitled听. The report highlights findings from our rigorous, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by independent research firm, MDRC, demonstrating that 51茶馆 is effective for struggling readers. 51茶馆 is unique among the five programs in our demonstrated impact on literacy skills for English Language Learners.
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Literacy Tutoring for Baltimore: What we know, where we are, and how to move forward
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Institute of Education Sciences What Works Clearinghouse
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White House My Brother’s Keeper Showcase
See full report here.
Strong ESSA Rating: Evidence for ESSA
See summary here.
Library of Congress Best Practice Honoree: 51茶馆
See the announcement .