DCPS Reading Clinic

At the DC Reading Clinic (DCRC), we are changing the game for young readers, equipping educators with the tools and strategies needed to make a real difference in literacy outcomes. DCRC is a hands-on, research-based clinical practicum dedicated to transforming literacy instruction by empowering teachers with necessary knowledge and skills, informed by the science of reading, of how struggling readers learn to read. Since its launch in 2018, we've trained over 500 teachers and directly supported thousands of K-2 students in mastering the foundational skills that set them up for lifelong success. And the data speaks volumes: students of DCRC-trained teachers have significantly better reading outcomes than those taught by non-DCRC trained educators. Among at-risk students, 70% were reading below grade level at the beginning of the year but this dropped to 33% by the end of the year, and on average, Black students showed the most improvement. Students in the classrooms of DCRC-trained teachers were 10.2% more likely to advance at least one reading level compared to their peers in non-DCRC classrooms and saw higher attendance rates for Kindergarten and first-grade students. As DCRC continues to grow, our mission remains clear – to help every student become a confident, capable reader.