Reading is the foundation of all learning. Third grade marks a critical transition point when children move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” and students who read proficiently by this milestone are four times more likely to graduate from high school than those who do not.
In 2014, AmeriCorps reformed its State and National grantmaking to prioritize evidence of effectiveness—fueling the national expansion of Reading Corps, a proven literacy intervention. Initially launched in Minnesota, Reading Corps delivers daily, data-driven tutoring to struggling K–3 students through trained AmeriCorps members. Since its inception in 2003, the program has reached over 372,000 students across 13 states and Washington, D.C., with more than 200,000 of those students served since AmeriCorps embraced an evidence-based grantmaking approach. Rigorous evaluations show significant reading gains across all student groups, with students achieving up to three-quarters of a year of growth in a single semester. With a return on investment ranging from $5.47 to $6.99 for every dollar invested—reflecting long-term academic and economic benefits for both students and AmeriCorps tutors—Reading Corps exemplifies the transformative power of investing in what works.