For districts

Combine the Science of Reading with High-Dosage Tutoring — cost-effectively

Once helps districts turn existing support staff into effective reading tutors, so every kindergartener becomes a fluent, independent reader.

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A district reading coach working with a young student

The why

Science of Reading is hard to implement consistently

After 50 years of research, there's consensus that districts should focus on the Science of Reading. But teachers are often under-prepared — and eliciting choral responses with near-perfect classroom management is nearly impossible in practice. Many districts find themselves still teaching phonics through 5th grade and beyond.

The promise

Children are cognitively ready to read in kindergarten

When students learn to read successfully in kindergarten, they become autonomous learners — requiring less differentiation, less remediation, and fewer supports in every academic subject for the rest of their education.

The method

Turn your existing support staff into expert reading instructors

We train school support staff to become Once Instructors. We provide them with scripted instructional content aligned to 50 years of educational research, record their sessions, and coach them to teach every kindergartener to read — one-on-one, at each student's own pace.

Over the year, instructors receive 20+ hours of coaching in the Science of Reading from expert coaches and are eligible for graduate credit at partnered universities — becoming your future pipeline of highly effective classroom teachers.

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High-Impact Tutoring is a pillar of DCPS' pandemic recovery strategy, and early literacy attainment is one of our strategic priorities.

Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee

District of Columbia Public Schools

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See the results for yourself

Our partnerships team would love to show you how Once fits into your district's literacy strategy.

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