Our story

Built by an educator.
Designed for every child.

ReadSprout was founded by a classroom educator who watched children fall behind — and knew the research existed to help every single one of them read.

Our mission is simple: every child deserves to love reading.

37% of American 4th graders read below basic level. The Science of Reading has given us a proven roadmap. ReadSprout puts that roadmap into every child's hands — from toddler pre-readers to 12th graders — regardless of zip code.

What drives us

Values we build by

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Science first

Every lesson, every activity, every assessment is grounded in the Science of Reading — the most rigorously tested body of research on how children learn to decode and comprehend language.

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Every child, every level

ReadSprout serves toddler pre-readers through 12th graders. No child is too young or too old to grow as a reader. The platform adapts to each child's exact level — not their grade.

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Privacy is non-negotiable

Children's data belongs to families and schools — never to advertisers. ReadSprout is ad-free, never sells student data, and exceeds COPPA and FERPA requirements at every level.

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School and family together

Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. ReadSprout bridges school and home with the same research-aligned instruction, so parents and teachers are always on the same page.

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Joy is a feature

Rigorous doesn't mean boring. ReadSprout's companion characters, XP system, and adaptive challenges make children ask to do their reading practice — because it genuinely feels like play.

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Transparency with data

We give parents and teachers the clearest possible picture of every child's progress — not vanity metrics, but actionable skill mastery data that drives real instructional decisions.

37%

of U.S. fourth graders read below basic level. That number has barely moved in 30 years — not because the research isn't there, but because the right tools haven't reached every child.

Why ReadSprout exists

I've spent years working in schools. I've watched children who are brilliant, curious, and full of potential struggle with reading — not because they couldn't learn, but because the instruction they received wasn't aligned with how the brain actually learns to read.

The Science of Reading gives us a clear, proven framework. LETRS training has spread it to teachers across the country. But the student-facing platforms haven't kept up. Lexia stops at Grade 8. Duolingo ABC is ages 3–6 only. No platform serves the full PreK–12 range with both school and family access.

ReadSprout is the platform I wished existed when I started my career. We're building it right — evidence-based, privacy-first, and built to actually reach the children who need it most.

— Tonya Johnson, Founder

The team

Built by people who love education

ReadSprout is an early-stage company founded by educators and technologists who believe every child deserves a rigorous, joyful path to reading fluency.

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We're growing. ReadSprout is currently in its founding phase. Our team page will be updated as we build. Want to be part of this? Check our careers page or reach out directly.

Join us on this mission.

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