About Once
Students will learn to read with Once — and they will only need it once.
Once combines the Science of Reading, the structured design of our literacy sequence, and the power of individual attention — so every child becomes a fluent, independent reader by grade 3.
Our origin
Born from a pandemic classroom of one
Once was born in the early pandemic when schools closed and our founders taught their kindergarten-age children to read at home — just 15 minutes a day. Within a year the kids were reading fluently, squirreling away in corners of the house for days with their newfound treasures from the library.
Former teachers themselves, the founders knew firsthand how hard it is to differentiate phonics instruction in a classroom. They wondered: what if every child could learn to read one-on-one, side-by-side with a trusted adult — in kindergarten or 1st grade?
Former teachers themselves, the founders knew firsthand how hard it is to differentiate phonics instruction in a classroom. They wondered: what if every child could learn to read one-on-one, side-by-side with a trusted adult — in kindergarten or 1st grade?
Our values
How we work
We sweat the small stuff
When you're teaching kids to read, every detail matters — from the phoneme sequence to the story arc.
We find a way
Third-grade reading proficiency hasn't budged in 50 years. Changing that requires creativity, urgency, and grit.
We thrive on feedback
Feedback is our lifeblood. It's how students learn, and it's how we learn how best to teach them.
We do it all with love
Helping students learn to read is what gets us up in the morning. There is no greater joy.
The team
People behind Once
Former teachers, school leaders, and researchers, united by a single goal: every child reading fluently by grade 3.
Get in touch
Join us, and try Once in your school district
We'd love to talk about how Once can help your students become fluent, independent readers.