Our Impact
In 2023, The Reading Center impacted hundreds of students!
The Reading Center is the only nonprofit in the region that offers a full array of services for dyslexic students and their families, including effective tutoring and training for teachers and parents. Over the years, we have trained 2,500 adults and educators in the Orton-Gillingham approach and helped 16,000 students improve their reading ability.
We know what we do works, as our annual client rechecks consistently show that 95% of our students make reading gains.
The Reading Center is growing! We moved into our new flagship building in Rochester, MN in December 2019 and began offering in-person tutoring and testing services in our Twin Cities in Woodbury, MN location in June 2023.
Testing: We tested 124 students age 7 and above, and screened 30 early learners for FREE. We also provided 172 FREE re-checks to our 1:1 tutoring students to measure progress.
Tutoring: Our tutors worked with 326 students 1:1 in more than 14,389 lessons.
Scholarships: Due to the generosity of our supporters, we provided more than $175,000 in scholarships to students and trainees last year.
Training: 40 adults took either our Basic or Advanced Training Course last year. 21 recent graduates of our training program were hired as Reading Center tutors!
Partnerships: We reached 249 underserved youth through by providing partnership tutoring and or Training Partnerships at The Journey School and Rise Academy of St. Paul, Franklin Elementary Rochester Reading Champions, Gage Elementary of Rochester Public Schools, Jeremiah Program of Rochester, & Urban Ventures of Minneapolis. Through these partnerships we provide intensive, ongoing O-G tutoring for free, with no barriers, to previously underserved, at risk children. Together we help youth improve their academic trajectory & their life outcomes. 100% of Twin Cities partnership participants are BIPOC and nearly 100% are low-income.
Outreach: We reached over 1,800 people through our outreach presentations and events throughout Minnesota. And 978 educators took our FREE professional development courses online!
Geographic reach: In 2023 our students and trainees came from 68 Minnesota counties, 30 states, 3 Canadian Provinces and 3 countries.
The Reading Center’s Geographic Reach
In 2022 our students and trainees came from 75 Minnesota counties, 31 states, 2 Canadian Provinces and 3 countries.
The Reading Center was awarded the Non-Profit of the Year Award in February 2017 by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.
“My son could barely read a short picture book when we began. Now he has almost completed a 550 page book that he is reading out loud to me!”