About Read Seattle
Read Seattle connects volunteers with trusted nonprofits and schools to support early literacy. By vetting programs and coordinating placements, we help bring community-powered reading support to students across the city.
.avif)
There is a solution to the literacy crisis.
The literacy crisis is devastating communities—and Seattle is no exception. Over half of U.S. adults lack literacy skills beyond a sixth-grade level, and nearly 1 in 5 struggles to read at even a third-grade level. In Seattle, the disparities are especially stark: only 30.2% of Black/African American third graders met grade-level expectations in English Language Arts in 2023. This crisis fuels poverty, limits opportunity, and contributes to systemic injustice - but there is hope. Real change starts when ordinary people step up to make a difference. Together, we can turn the page for Seattle’s children.
Who Can Be a Tutor?
If you can read, you can help someone else read. Volunteers can be trained professionals, community members, or even middle and high school students. Read Seattle exists to point potential tutors to nonprofit organizations that match their interests and availability.
How Does Tutoring Work?
Each nonprofit runs its program slightly differently, but most follow these principles:
- Sessions typically last 45 minutes to 1 hour, held 1-on-1 or in small groups.
- Volunteers use a curriculum provided by certified teachers, which may include phonics exercises, decodable books, vocabulary building, and reading comprehension.
- Programs are often held in schools, churches, and community centers during the day or as part of afterschool activities, running 2–5 times per week
What Is High-Dosage, High-Impact Tutoring?
High-Dosage means students receive support at least three times per week, ensuring consistency and progress. High-Impact means tutors receive proper training and work with evidence-based curriculums created by certified educators.
What Is Read Seattle’s Role?
Read Seattle is a grassroots movement uniting volunteers, families, and educators to support young readers and promote educational equity. In partnership with the Children’s Literacy Project and the Sentenced documentary, we’re part of a national effort to end illiteracy. Our vision: every child reading with joy and confidence—writing their own story of success.
SENTENCED: An Urgent Call to Action Documentary
SENTENCED is an immersive and vulnerable exploration of the epidemic of childhood illiteracy through a series of braided character-driven stories. Executive produced and narrated by 4x NBA basketball champion Stephen Curry, SENTENCED is designed to launch 1,000,000 volunteers across America.
