Springboard Collaborative

Springboard Collaborative is dedicated to closing the literacy gap by bridging the divide between home and school, coaching educators and family members to help students learn to read by fourth grade.

Springboard’s family-based literacy program helps teachers and parents achieve learning goals together, combining personalized instruction for pre-K through third grade, parent workshops on teaching reading at home and professional development for teachers.

In 2019, only 15% of Detroit third-graders read at or above grade-level. Studies show that by fifth grade, cumulative summer learning loss can leave students performing two to three years behind their peers. The pandemic only exacerbated those issues and presented a significant challenge for Detroit families, particularly families with low-incomes, as they navigated educating their children from home. GreenLight launched Springboard to support students and their families and improve literacy rates.

Springboard’s family workshops provide personalized reading plans that enhance the quality and quantity of time students spend reading at home. Families participate in weekly live workshops, either online or by phone, led by trained teachers and staff.

During the summer, Springboard offers virtual programming where parents or caregivers of pre-K through third-grade students are matched with a virtual teacher. They receive instruction, customized reading tips, coaching, personalized goals, incentives, access to age-appropriate books, and progress tracking through the Springboard Connect app. The program extends into after-school hours during the school year, with the goal of reaching thousands more students and families in Detroit.