READ TO LEAD (RTL) is a digital platform that promotes literacy by placing students in virtual leadership roles, like a community center director or head pharmacist, where they build decision-making skills through authentic, job-related reading tasks. The RTL program builds a bridge between literacy, emotional development, and career exploration.
CEI successfully implemented a five-month pilot of its RTL program at the Leaders of Tomorrow MS 370 in the Bronx. This pilot represents CEI’s dedication to blending academic rigor with real-world relevance to boost student engagement and learning outcomes. During the pilot, students were immersed in a virtual workplace environment, completing formative assessments and responding to decision-making prompts requiring critical thinking and empathy.
CEI plans to analyze student assessments in the coming months to evaluate growth in reading fluency and comprehension, which will provide valuable data on the program’s academic impact. Feedback from students indicated a high level of enjoyment and a sense of achievement as they tracked their progress over time. The success of this pilot underscores CEI’s mission to cultivate student agency, improve literacy outcomes, and prepare learners for future academic and career success through innovative programming like Read to Lead.
