Ignite Reading Partners with UF Lastinger Center’s Florida Tutoring Advantage

PORT RICHEY, FL – Ignite Reading, a one-to-one, Science of Reading-based virtual tutoring program in 18 states nationwide, today announced its partnership with the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning through the Florida Tutoring Advantage, a comprehensive statewide initiative aimed at significantly improving student outcomes in reading and mathematics. Ignite Reading was selected as a tutoring partner for the Florida Tutoring Advantage through an ITN process conducted by the University of Florida.

Marking Ignite Reading’s inaugural implementation in Florida at Dayspring Charter Academy in Pasco County through the Florida Tutoring Advantage partnership, the school hosted a showcase last week celebrating the significant literacy gains achieved through their collaboration. Dayspring Academy announced results from its ongoing partnership with Ignite Reading to deliver online, one-to-one literacy tutoring for K through 1st graders. Participating students have made impressive gains, averaging more than 2.5 weeks of reading progress for every week of tutoring instruction – more than double the expected rate in a traditional classroom.

“We are excited to be the first school in Florida to implement Ignite Reading through the Florida Tutoring Advantage program,” said R. Suzanne Legg, Co-Founder & CEO of Dayspring Academy. “The personalized, one-on-one support that Ignite Reading provides is exactly what our students need to build strong foundational reading skills by the end of first grade. We are confident that this partnership will significantly impact their academic journey.”

The UF Lastinger Center administers tutoring program design resources, funds school districts to bolster their tutoring programs, offers professional learning for district staff and tutors, and provides face-to-face, virtual, and automated tutoring for eligible K-5 students as well as AI-enhanced supports for select students in grades 6-12.  The goal is to improve K-5 student outcomes in reading and mathematics.  During the inaugural year of implementation, the Lastinger Center has adopted a Plan, Prepare, Pilot model to inform the scaling up of the program.

“We chose Ignite Reading because of their strong, evidence-based approach to literacy instruction,” said Phil Poekert, Ph.D., Lastinger Center Director. “The Florida Tutoring Advantage represents our dedication to transforming education through evidence-based high-impact tutoring and ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

Key components of the Florida Tutoring Advantage, administered by the UF Lastinger Center, include:

• Developing and sharing high-impact tutoring guidelines for school districts.
• Providing expert consultation to school districts on program creation and effective implementation.
• Offering grant funding to public school districts to develop in-person tutoring programs.
• Implementing and expanding in-person, virtual, and automated tutoring programs in K-5.
• AI-enhanced supports for students in grades 6-12.

“First-grade reading instruction is where we lay the groundwork for a lifetime of learning,” said Jess Reid Sliwerski, CEO of Ignite Reading. “High-dosage tutoring has proven to be a transformative tool in accelerating learning and closing achievement gaps. We are thrilled to partner with the UF Lastinger Center and Dayspring Charter Academy to bring our evidence-based literacy solutions to Florida students.”

The University of Florida Lastinger Center began piloting programs with partner districts in the 2024-2025 school year, with resources becoming available throughout the year and beyond.

About Ignite Reading

Ignite Reading is on a mission to ensure every student can access the tools they need to be a confident, fluent reader by the end of 1st grade. School districts nationwide depend on Ignite Reading’s virtual tutoring program to deliver literacy support at scale for students who need help learning to read. Our highly trained tutors provide students with 1:1 tutoring in foundational literacy skills each school day, helping them go from learning to read to reading to learn.

A recent study by the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University found that Ignite Reading students across demographics — including students who are English Learners, Black, Hispanic, and those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) — achieve the same outstanding gains of more than 5 months of additional learning during a single school year.  For more information about Ignite Reading, visit www.ignite-reading.com.

About the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning

The UF Lastinger Center for Learning creates educational systems where every child and educator experiences high-quality learning that supports achievement of the critical milestones predictive of success in school and life. Its programs focus on kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and algebra proficiency. Over the last two decades, the Lastinger Center has made significant strides for real, scalable solutions in collaboration with educators and families in Florida and around the country. To learn more about the Lastinger Center, please visit  http://lastinger.center.ufl.edu/.