WINNIPEG, MB, February 23, 2026 — Hoot Reading, a leader in evidence-based online literacy tutoring, today announced compelling results from an independent randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in partnership with Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) and Stanford University’s National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA). The study found that students receiving Hoot Reading’s personalized 1:1 virtual tutoring significantly outperformed their peers in early literacy growth during the 2024-2025 school year, particularly among students reading well below grade level.
The RCT, one of the largest of its kind in the country, tracked 1,550 students in grades 1-4 across 14 KCPS elementary schools. Students who participated in at least 20 weeks of Hoot Reading tutoring, delivered three times per week, showed statistically significant improvements on standardized reading assessments compared with students who received standard instruction alone.
“This study provides independent evidence that Hoot Reading’s targeted, one-on-one tutoring can accelerate reading growth for some of our most underserved students,” said Carly Shuler, founder of Hoot Reading. “We are proud to support Kansas City educators and families as they work to close literacy gaps and unlock lifelong opportunities for children.”
Key findings include:
- Statistically significant literacy gains: Students furthest below grade-level who received Hoot tutoring scored higher on end-of-year reading assessments than peers in the control group.
- Improved growth metrics: Tutored students exhibited higher Annual Typical Growth and Stretch Growth scores on i-Ready reading diagnostics.
- Positive trends beyond other measures: Hoot Reading’s high-impact tutoring outperformed other existing literacy interventions that were taking place at the time in KCPS
“Large-scale tutoring is challenging to implement well, which is why rigorous evidence at this level matters," says Dr. Susanna Loeb, faculty director of Stanford University’s National Student Support Accelerator. "This study shows that when high-impact tutoring is delivered with trained educators, consistent dosage, and strong attention to attendance and quality, meaningful literacy gains are possible even at scale.”
These results underscore Hoot Reading’s mission to change children’s lives through literacy by offering personalized, data-driven instruction. Hoot Reading’s structured literacy approach, grounded in scientific research and delivered by certified teachers, helps students build foundational skills — from phonemic awareness and decoding to fluency and comprehension — in a way that meets them where they are.
Why It Matters
Across the U.S., literacy outcomes, especially in early grades, remain an urgent priority for educators, families, and community leaders. Evidence shows that students who struggle with reading early are more likely to face ongoing academic challenges. This study adds to a growing body of research demonstrating that high-impact tutoring can be an effective lever for accelerating progress and closing persistent achievement gaps.
Download full study and visuals here.
About Hoot Reading
Hoot Reading Inc. is a leading provider of online 1:1 literacy tutoring for K-12 schools and families. Hoot’s evidence-based structured literacy instruction is delivered by certified teachers and grounded in research from the Science of Reading. Serving thousands of students and hundreds of schools, Hoot combines live instruction with technology-enabled assessment and lesson planning to deliver truly personalized intervention.
Media Contact:
Madi Secareanu
The Spox Agency
madi@thespox.com
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