Tucked away on Elsmere Avenue in Northwest Dayton, Fairview Elementary has helped shape generations of Dayton children for more than a century. Today, that commitment lives on as the school works alongside community partners to ensure its third-grade scholars become confident, proficient readers.
Third grade is one of the most important milestones in a child’s education. Before then, children are learning how to recognize letters, sound out unfamiliar words, build vocabulary, and develop the fluency needed to read with confidence. By third grade, reading becomes the foundation for learning across every subject.
Research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that children who read proficiently by third grade, even those facing economic hardship, graduate high school on time at rates nearly identical to their peers who never faced that hardship at all.
That is why Omega CDC, in partnership with Dayton Public Schools and with technical support from Learn to Earn Dayton, piloted Literacy Tree, a High Impact Tutoring model, with 22 third-grade scholars during out-of-school-time at Fairview this year. The pilot builds on years of investment through Omega CDC’s Scholars of H.O.P.E., part of the Hope Zone Promise Neighborhood initiative in Northwest Dayton. Over 12 weeks, scholars received targeted literacy tutoring designed to strengthen their reading skills, build confidence, and prepare them for success long after they leave the classroom.
As Omega CDC’s Instructional Education Coach, Staci Shockley-Matthews has worked alongside Fairview scholars throughout the Literacy Tree pilot, helping students strengthen their literacy each week. She believes the program’s impact reaches well beyond academic benchmarks.
“Beyond improving reading proficiency, this partnership expanded opportunities, strengthened confidence, and demonstrated what is possible when organizations unite around a shared commitment to educational equity and student success,” Shockley-Matthews said.
The Growth is Real
The pilot tracked scholars closely from day one. Upfront placement assessments established each scholar’s starting point. Weekly progress monitoring followed growth session by session, while midway and final assessments measured results against each scholar’s individual benchmark goals.
Twelve weeks in, the results are a real reason to celebrate in the Fairview community.
Ten scholars closed first-grade level gaps. Seven closed second-grade level gaps, moving from 29 percent behind benchmark to a 3-point gain above it. Five closed third-grade level gaps entirely, growing fluency to 100 words per minute with 98 percent accuracy. These strides represent the transition from decoding a homework assignment one word at a time to reading it with more confidence and speed, exactly the fluency third graders need as a foundation for every subject ahead.
Across the board, 94 percent of scholars who attended consistently met their 12-week benchmark goals and are ready to advance to the next level. That is a strong showing for one semester, reflecting the effort of the scholars, their teachers, and the families who got them to every session.
“The impact of Literacy Tree on student performance over the 12-week period was clear, with students demonstrating steady and consistent progress,” said Principal Angela Shelton, of Fairview Elementary. “Student engagement remained high throughout the program, and the care, support, and attention provided to both students and staff by the Literacy Tree team were exceptional. Their commitment and professionalism made a meaningful contribution to the program’s success.”
Where the Opportunity Lives
Like every successful pilot, Literacy Tree did more than measure outcomes. It also identified where additional support can make an even greater difference.
Among scholars who faced attendance challenges, half still met their 12-week benchmark goals, proof that the model holds up even under tough circumstances. The clearest opportunity ahead is consistency. Every session a scholar attends builds on the last, and the data shows that scholars who attended regularly saw the strongest results. Strengthening attendance support, transportation, communication, and flexibility for families facing barriers is the next step in making sure every scholar enrolled gets the full benefit of the program.
Amber Edwards, MTSS Coach at Dayton Public Schools, says the Literacy Tree pilot was a valuable addition to the evidence-based literacy instruction at DPS. “This program is expanding access to targeted support for students who needed it most,” Amber said. “It aligns with our district’s goal of strengthening foundational reading skills and ensuring every child has the support they need to become a successful reader.”
Why This Moment Matters
A word-per-minute score tells only part of the story. Behind every number is a Fairview scholar who once hesitated on a page and now reads with greater confidence. That confidence extends beyond reading, equipping children to engage more fully in every subject and laying the foundation for future academic success.
One scholar in particular, Autumn, has seen significant gains, according to her guardian Ashhli Walker-Bell. “I think that Literacy Tree gave Autumn the extra practice that she needed to pass her test,” Walker-Bell said. Her experience reflects a well-documented finding. Research reviews of early literacy tutoring have found effect sizes ranging from 0.24 to 0.41 on reading achievement, according to studies compiled by Stanford’s National Student Support Accelerator. That’s the kind of consistent, targeted practice Autumn received, and it’s the kind that can meaningfully move a child’s reading skills forward.
Looking to the Future
The pilot at Fairview Elementary is possible because of the shared vision of Omega CDC, Dayton Public Schools, and Learn to Earn Dayton. But the growth belongs to the scholars. Every gain in this report, every closed grade-level gap, every point of fluency, is the result of Fairview’s third graders showing up, doing the work, and building the skills that will carry them through every subject ahead.
The next phase is about staying in it. Third grade is too critical a milestone to treat this as a one-time win. That means continuing to test, adjust, and refine the model, reaching the scholars who have not yet had consistent access, and working alongside our partners to expand this support to more classrooms and more children. Literacy Tree is not a finished story. It is the next chapter in a commitment to giving every child in Northwest Dayton the chance to read, and to own that skill for the rest of their life.
To learn more about the Scholars of H.O.P.E. program, Literacy Tree, or ways to support student success, visit omegacdc.org or contact our team.
