OUR MISSION

Started in 2018 in Highland Park, New Jersey, Raising Hands Tutoring is an educational non-profit on a mission to decrease the achievement gap that exists for underserved children by providing high quality reading instruction in the classroom and free tutoring outside of the classroom to our neediest students.

A child with curly hair in a blue sweatshirt sits at a white desk, reaching into a clear bowl of multicolored beads.

We achieve this by offering local teachers access to a costly training and certification program with a nationally recognized, evidence-based reading program. Once trained, teachers are equipped to apply the program in their classes and provide free individualized after school tutoring to at-risk, struggling readers who require a more intensive intervention experience. Our provision of free tutoring is unique to our program and a critical aspect of our mission.

  • ~ One third of 4th grade students are reading at grade level.

    ~ Students struggling to read in 3rd grade are more likely to drop out of high school.

    ~ 78% of low-income children in NJ are not reading at grade level.

    ~ 1 in 5 children struggle to read.

  • ~ The state recommends a reading program but no teacher training is provided.

    ~ Recommended interventions are typically reserved for private schools and private tutoring.

    ~ 30% of teachers surveyed nationwide feel equipped to effectively teach children with reading disabilities and struggling readers.

    ~ The best practices recognized by the state DOE are not being implemented.

  • ~ RHT brings this recommended program to the public schools in New Jersey by training and certifying elementary school teachers in the Orton Gillingham method in exchange for tutoring services.

    ~ Instead of paying our teachers, we cover the cost of certification and in return, the teachers “pay back” the organization by providing 60 hours of free tutoring to a low income/at-risk struggling reader.

    ~ We believe this is a win-win for school districts as it brings highly qualified reading teachers to the classroom and provides low income students access to effective, after school reading tutoring.

OUR GOALS

1. Impact struggling readers on a short and long term basis, especially those with learning disabilities like dyslexia, by training and certifying public school teachers to provide intervention services that would otherwise be inaccessible.

A smiling tutor sits with three elementary students clustered around her as they look at a shared book or learning activity.

2. Create a replicable model that can be used in other districts across New Jersey and ultimately by other organizations across the country.