Organization and Contact
Program Overview
At Azura Literacy, we are dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering upward mobility for children in Arizona’s most under-resourced communities through literacy. We empower struggling readers by providing individualized support to help them become proficient, paving the way for a brighter future.
Azura Literacy is a free, virtual, high-impact tutoring program for elementary students in which a caring, vetted, trained adult meets with a child through Zoom one-on-one twice a week to tutor them in reading. Students are given pre- and post-assessments to determine needs and measure growth, and tutors use digital children’s libraries and interactive activities to guide students in engaging, individualized reading practice. This helps them improve their reading skills, confidence, and motivation and make gains toward reading proficiently.
Our program's innovative design offers additional benefits for the children’s families. Students participate in reading sessions from home in the afternoon and evening, creating opportunities for parents/guardians and younger siblings to be involved in the sessions as well. This also eliminates barriers for students who are not able to stay for after-school programs and have transportation and/or scheduling barriers.
Students participating in Azura Literacy also receive free access to a digital children's library with over 40,000 books they can read anytime, increasing book access for entire households and promoting independent and family reading time.
To ensure that we provide high-impact support to struggling readers, our tutoring program is:
Equity-centered: Tutors ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive, fostering inclusive environments where learners feel seen, valued, and connected.
Culturally-sustaining: Tutors apply strategies that affirm students’ identities, creating safe and empowering learning spaces.
Relationship-based: Strong, supportive relationships encourage perseverance, reduce behavioral challenges, and improve academic outcomes. Tutors build trust through authentic, joyful, and empathetic engagement.
Engaging: Sessions are tailored to each student’s needs and interests, providing a low-stress, high-trust setting that makes learning enjoyable and meaningful.
Data-driven: Tutors use assessment data to identify and address skill gaps while helping students apply foundational knowledge to grade-level content, accelerating learning with a balanced approach.