85% of Students Have Improved Their Benchmark Test Scores 

Chester students are logging solid reading growth so far this school year. Of the 63 students Reading Assist is supporting through high-dosage tutoring in Chester Upland School District this year, 100% have shown growth in at least one measure of foundational reading skills and 85% have improved their benchmark test scores. 

Across grade levels and schools, some growth trends are even stronger. Among first-graders, 96% showed growth in at least one intermediate reading fluency measure, and at Chester Upland School of the Arts, 95% of students showed growth. At Stetser Elementary School, students improved up to 179% in one reading measure over their start-of-year scores. 

These results not only underscore the positive impact of high-dosage tutoring – one-on-one or small group tutoring delivered three or more days a week – for struggling young readers, but they also highlight the importance of a strong curriculum aligned with the science of reading.   

“We’re so pleased Chester students are on the right track with their reading growth,” said Reading Assist CEO Caroline O’Neal. “They’re making incredible progress already, and we’re barely halfway through the school year. Our program continues to generate strong gains among struggling readers, which is a great testament to the effectiveness of high-dosage tutoring and the science of reading.” 

Reading Assist’s accredited structured literacy program is firmly aligned with the science of reading, and Reading Assist supports Pennsylvania’s bipartisan SB 801 and HB 998 bills to advance the science of reading in Pennsylvania schools through curricula, assessment materials, teacher training, and support for struggling readers.  

The effectiveness of Reading Assist’s program earned national recognition from AmeriCorps last year, when it was awarded a national direct grant. This grant has enabled Reading Assist to enlist more AmeriCorps members to deliver its accredited reading program, including in Chester for the current 2023-24 school year.  

For detailed data on Reading Assist student performance from the 2022-23 academic year, visit https://readingassist.org/results.