|
This month, we are excited to share news and updates on how ReadWorks is making an impact and building the next generation of confident, knowledgeable, and joyful readers. As always, we are grateful to our donors as we support teacher instruction that builds the knowledge and vocabulary that drive students’ reading comprehension.
Dive Deeper into ReadWorks’ Latest News & Content
0 Comments
For a long time, the national conversation about education in Mississippi was one of struggle. Yet in the last few years, a new narrative has emerged, one that news reporters across the country are calling the "Mississippi Miracle." Since 2013, the state has undergone a historic transformation, rising from the bottom of national rankings to becoming a leader in 4th-grade reading progress. (Source: How Mississippi Transformed Schools from Worst to Best, New York Times, 2026) At ReadWorks, we know this wasn't a miracle; it was the result of thousands of teachers and state leaders rolling up their sleeves to embrace and implement the science of reading into instruction. However, as any teacher will tell you, the work is far from over. We know Mississippi sparks a particular curiosity because of its high poverty rate, rural school districts, and limited funding for instructional materials. This story brings hope that leadership, organization, and access- in addition to financial investment - can drive change. The Importance of Access to ReadWorks in Mississippi: Removing the "Price Tag" from Progress Each year, more than 7,000 reading specialists and paraprofessionals (20% of Mississippi educators) use ReadWorks; 87% work in schools serving student populations where at least 75% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the population Readworks is most focused on as a nonprofit. This is significant because ReadWorks is able to provide resources that are typically high-cost for free. Resources such as nonfiction decodable texts—short articles that help emerging readers practice specific letter sounds. These are essential tools for reading instruction, yet they are often priced as luxury items. A single classroom set can cost a school over $4,000. (Source: Decodables.com) Thanks to the support of The Chisholm Foundation, which specifically funds ReadWorks’ outreach to Mississippi, here are a few key ways ReadWorks has made an impact across the state:
"ReadWorks has helped me with the start of teaching. It also helps with finding out what level my students are on." Deeping District Partnerships: In partnership with the Laurel, MS School District, ReadWorks is embarking on a deep, multi-year research initiative to understand exactly how digital tools can best support students in high-poverty communities. The Laurel project represents our most significant commitment yet. We aren’t just providing content; we are providing the "human infrastructure" to make it work.
Written by: Melissa CalderDirector of Marketing and Engagement at ReadWorks The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway, and it’s the perfect time to bring the excitement, history, and inspiration of the Games into your classroom! To help you make the most of this global event, ReadWorks has curated five engaging reading selections--including two Article-A-Day collections—designed to deepen students’ understanding of the Olympics while building background knowledge, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. From exploring the origins and traditions of the Olympic Games to celebrating the inspiring stories of Olympic athletes, these free resources invite students to connect with themes of perseverance, teamwork, cultural exchange, and global citizenship. Whether you’re looking for a quick daily routine or a deeper dive into Olympic history and sports, these texts make it easy to integrate timely, high-interest reading into your instruction. Kick off your classroom’s Olympic celebration with these ready-to-assign, standards-aligned readings and let your students discover the stories, challenges, and triumphs behind the world’s greatest winter sporting event. Explore our curated Winter Olympics reading collection below.
In the dynamic landscape of education technology, understanding the needs and preferences of our community of educators allows us to better meet the needs of teachers and students. Every two years, we conduct a comprehensive survey to gain valuable insights into the thoughts of our teachers, reading specialists, administrators, and parent users. The results are in, and we're excited to share them with you!
The survey is a pulse on trends and highlights from our educator community. The response was overwhelming, with nearly 7,000 participants providing feedback to help move us forward. One key difference between the 2025 and the 2023 survey is our focus on collecting responses from the communities we most serve: educators teaching in lower-income schools and districts. We met our goal of hearing from than 50% of educators who teach in schools with 75% or more of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. User Satisfaction: A whopping 95% of respondents expressed satisfaction with our services and would recommend ReadWorks to a colleague. 92% of all respondents said that FREE reading comprehension resources are important to their community. We are thrilled to know that our efforts at continual improvement and our commitment to ensuring access for all, always, align with what our users need.
2025 ReadWorks National Survey Results by Melissa Calder
Areas for Improvement: While the overall satisfaction is high, the survey also highlighted a continuous area of need for our users: time. Teachers are still short on time to learn about additional tools to supplement their curricula. This constructive feedback is invaluable for improving the simplicity of our communications and ease of onboarding for new users.
Actionable Insights: These valuable insights from our community have already led to updates and enhancements that you can watch for in the new year!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. Your input is invaluable, and we look forward to evolving together based on the insights gained. Stay tuned for even more exciting developments in 2026! Written by: Melissa Calder, Director of Marketing and Engagement |
