Reading by grade 3 opens doors to lifelong learning. Early literacy tutoring focuses on building foundational skills including phonological awareness, phonics knowledge and decoding skills to help students become independent fluent readers in the early grades. To help all students become confident, fluent readers, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is soliciting interest in DESE-sponsored early literacy tutoring. Eligible public school districts and charter schools may receive free tutoring services for students in grades K–3, with priority for first grade.
While there’s a possibility of funding for this initiative in next year’s state budget, tutoring opportunities will only move forward if state funding is appropriated. DESE is preparing for the possibility of offering free early literacy tutoring for students in grades K–3, with a priority on first grade. To ensure public school districts and charter schools are ready to move quickly, the Department is gathering information now from public school districts and charter schools that may be interested in participating.
Complete the Interest Form for the 2025–26 School Year by June 30, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
Please note, DESE may incorporate additional legislatively-required eligibility requirements into the selection process.
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District or charter school uses a DESE approved screening tool(s) in grades K-3
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District or charter school agrees to the tutor’s administration of DIBELS 8th edition to participating students, pre and posttest for 10-12 week tutoring programs and pre, mid-point, and post for full year tutoring programs
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Curriculum Data Collection: As part of the tutoring initiative, districts and charter schools must complete Curriculum Data Collection for ELA/literacy, Mathematics, Science and Technology/Engineering, and History/Social Science. Your ELA/literacy curriculum data for grades K–3 will be used to score your application based on the use of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for the full core literacy block, including foundational reading skills. You can view or update your curriculum data via the Curriculum Data Report and access instructions and guidance on data collection on the DESE website.
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Universal screening data sharing: Districts and charter schools receiving this opportunity must agree to participate in research efforts, including providing student-level assessment data from the approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in all schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the data collected for research purposes, including evaluation of this program. Analyses will comply with state and federal confidentiality laws.
The Department will select districts and charter schools to receive early literacy tutoring, if appropriated, based on criteria including:
If you have questions, please join us for weekly office hours: Early Literacy Tutoring Zoom Meeting Registration. You can also email questions to LiteracyandHumanities@mass.gov.