SMART Reading

Mission: Mission:

To spark joy and opportunity through the magic of a shared book.

Program Description: Program Description:

Start Making a Reader Today® (SMART®) is a volunteer program widely implemented in Oregon for students in grades preK-3 who are at risk of reading failure. The program is designed to be a low-cost, easy-to-implement intervention. Volunteer readers go into schools where at least 40% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and read one-on-one with students twice a week for half an hour. Typically, one volunteer works with two children on four types of activities: reading to the child, reading with the child, re-reading with the child, and asking the child questions about what has been read. The program also gives each student two new books a month to encourage families to read together.

Type of service
Academic Intervention
Other
Other type of service

Reading engagement and motivation.

Website Address
https://smartreading.org/
Year Started
1992
Headquarter Location (City, State)
Portland, Oregon
States of Operation
Oregon
Most recent number of students served
11000
Subject Offered
Reading
Grade Levels
Pre-Kindergarten,
Kindergarten,
1st Grade,
2nd Grade,
3rd Grade
Languages Offered
English,
Spanish
Percentage of tutors who can speak a language other than English
The largest percentage breakdowns beyond English are: Spanish=8%, French=1%. Note: Not all volunteers completed this voluntary part of the volunteer application.
Race/Ethnicity breakdown of tutors
Hispanic or Latino- 4%, American Indian or Alaska Native 2%, Asian 1%, Black or African American <1%, White 87%
Setting
During School
Delivery Mode
In-Person,
Virtual
Tutor-Student Ratio
1:1
Number of Sessions Per Week
1 to 2
Does your program engage with parents?
Yes
Family Engagement Description

The program gives each student two new books a month to encourage families to read together. Information is periodically sent home with students (tips and released resources for reading with a child). Parents can also opt in to our email list to receive additional updates.

Organization Type
Nonprofit
Customer Type
Nonprofit
School
Cost to District/ School/ Non-Profit
Free
Type of Tutor
Volunteer
Randomized controlled trial (RCT) study conducted?
Yes
RCT Citation

https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1598/RRQ.35.4.3

RCT effect size
ES = +0.40
Quasi-experimental (QED) study conducted?
No
Contact Email
SMART@smartreading.org
Contact Name
Chris Otis, Executive Director