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99% of K-3 Students in Massachusetts Improved Literacy Skills with High-Dosage Tutoring

In seven districts across 23 schools, Catapult Learning helped 438 students strengthen foundational reading skills—driving measurable growth and classroom confidence through targeted, in-person support.
January 8, 2025
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During the 2023–2024 school year, seven Massachusetts public school districts partnered with Catapult Learning to close early reading gaps and build a strong foundation in literacy. The result: a targeted, in-person High-Dosage Tutoring (HDT) program serving students in grades K–3.

Program Snapshot:

In-person small-group literacy tutoring multiple times per week

schools served
K-12 student supported

Measurable Growth on DIBELS

The program’s effectiveness was measured using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), a nationally recognized tool for early reading assessment. The results were clear and compelling:

Kindergarten and 1st grade students more than tripled their scores on 5 of 6 subtests, demonstrating powerful skill development in foundational areas like phonemic awareness, letter naming, and oral reading fluency.

Tailored Support, Proven Results

By delivering consistent, small-group instruction multiple times per week, the HDT program met students where they were—accelerating growth through personalized, data-informed instruction. Teachers and school leaders reported increased student confidence and greater classroom engagement.

A Model for Literacy Acceleration

This Massachusetts initiative highlights how strategic investment in high-impact tutoring can transform learning outcomes, especially in the critical early years. With evidence-based methods and clear, measurable success, the HDT program continues to be a powerful tool in supporting districts’ literacy goals.

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