Springboard Collaborative closes the literacy gap by closing the gap between home and school, coaching educators and family members to help kids learn to read by fourth grade. Springboard envisions a world in which all children have the requisite literacy skills to access life opportunities. The family-based literacy program helps teachers and parents achieve learning goals with children through 5-10-week interventions that combine personalized instruction for pre-K through third-graders, workshops training parents to teach reading at home, and professional development for teachers.

As a result of the ongoing pandemic, Detroit families face a daunting challenge of educating their kids from home. Springboard family workshops create personalized reading plans that increase the quality and quantity of time students spend reading at home. Families will participate in live weekly workshops either online or by phone, led by formally trained teachers and paid staff.

During the summer, Springboard programming, parents or caregivers of pre-K through third-grade students will be matched with a virtual teacher to provide instruction, receive customized reading tips and coaching, set personalized goals, earn incentives, access reading-level-appropriate books, and track progress through the Springboard Connect app. The program will continue through after school hours during the school year with the goal of reaching thousands of more students and families.