Why Read Seattle?

The consequences of low literacy are far-reaching and deeply impactful. In the U.S., 54% of adults lack literacy skills beyond a sixth-grade level, and nearly one in five adults struggles to read even at a third-grade level. These challenges lead to limited job opportunities, increased healthcare costs (up to $238 billion annually), and higher rates of poverty and crime. In Seattle, the disparities are glaring, with significant literacy gaps among students of color, such as only 30.2% of Black/African American third- graders meeting grade-level expectations in ELA (2023). Without intervention, these issues perpetuate cycles of poverty, underscoring the urgent need for community-led initiatives that foster thriving communities.

How Does Read Seattle Address the Problem?

Read Seattle is building a community-driven literacy movement by connecting volunteers with local nonprofits that provide direct tutoring services. While we don’t operate tutoring programs ourselves, we help community members engage with organizations that do. We also work directly with schools to coordinate volunteers, helping administrators develop strategies to effectively use community support—whether by establishing literacy clubs or integrating volunteers into the school day to read with students.

To ensure volunteers are placed with high-quality programs, Read Seattle personally vets nonprofit partners by visiting their sites to confirm they provide structured literacy instruction rather than general childcare. Our work spans the entire city, strengthening literacy efforts across Seattle.

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 dedicated to promoting literacy and educational equity across the Seattle area. Powered by dedicated volunteers from across our community, we're building a grassroots movement that brings together neighbors, educators, and families to support young readers. In partnership with the Children's Literacy Project, creators of the acclaimed Sentenced documentary, Read Seattle joins a national movement to eradicate illiteracy. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to addressing the root causes of educational disparities. The vision of Read Seattle is to see every child reading with joy, fostering a lifelong love of learning and the confidence to succeed—helping every child in Seattle write their own story of success, one page at a time.