Florida’s youngest readers are making progress at more than twice the expected rate after a statewide tutoring program paired virtual instruction with one-on-one support.
Ignite Reading, a virtual tutoring provider operating in 18 states, has partnered with the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning to bring its reading program to Florida schools. The collaboration is part of the Florida Tutoring Advantage, an initiative aimed at improving reading and math outcomes for K-5 students.
First Florida school sees rapid literacy gains
Dayspring Charter Academy in Pasco County was the first Florida school to implement the program. K-1 students averaged more than 2.5 weeks of reading progress for every week of tutoring.
R. Suzanne Legg, co-founder and CEO of Dayspring Academy, said the personalized support helps students build strong foundational skills by the end of first grade. The school hosted a showcase last week to demonstrate the early results.
The program uses virtual sessions with trained tutors. It ensures students master basic literacy skills before moving on to more complex tasks.
Statewide rollout follows competitive selection
The Lastinger Center, which runs the Florida Tutoring Advantage, selected Ignite Reading through a competitive process. The center provides funding, design resources, and training to school districts while overseeing virtual, in-person, and AI-enhanced options.
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Phil Poekert, director of the Lastinger Center, said they chose Ignite Reading for its evidence-based approach to literacy. The initiative includes grant funding for public school districts to develop in-person tutoring programs, along with AI supports for older students in grades 6-12.
During its first year, the center is using a Plan, Prepare, Pilot model to refine the program before expanding it statewide.
Jess Reid Sliwerski, CEO of Ignite Reading, said early intervention matters most. “First-grade reading instruction lays the groundwork for a lifetime of learning,” she said. “High-dosage tutoring accelerates learning and closes achievement gaps.”
If the current pace continues, Florida’s approach could serve as a model for other states. The program combines state oversight with flexible tutoring, allowing districts to adapt it to local needs while keeping quality consistent. That approach may help scale similar efforts elsewhere.
The Lastinger Center began testing the program in select districts during the 2024-2025 school year, with plans to expand resources.
Ignite Reading aims to ensure every student becomes a confident, fluent reader by the end of first grade. The organization works with school districts nationwide to provide virtual tutoring, focusing on skills like phonics and decoding.
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