RFA is partnering with Congreso de Latinos Unidos for a mixed-methods evaluation of the Éxito K-3 Literacy Project. The initiative aims to achieve grade-level reading by the end of third grade for the 2023-24 kindergarten cohorts at two Philadelphia elementary schools. It provides targeted in-school and after-school literacy tutoring and a range of family supports, such as housing, employment, and health. Program implementation uses a continuous quality improvement approach, and our research will examine the implementation of the program and its impact on participating students’ literacy outcomes.
Due to systemic failures, children from historically marginalized and underserved communities are affected by persistent gaps in literacy outcomes compared with white and more affluent peers. This project examines the effectiveness of literacy interventions paired with family supports to improve early-grade literacy outcomes, contributing to research on holistic approaches to supporting student achievement and family wellbeing.