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Washington County expands reading tutor apprenticeship after data show strong early reading gains
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Summary
Washington County Public Schools reported data showing the district's high school reading tutor apprenticeship helped nearly all tutored elementary students make reading gains. The district said it will double the program and add math tutors for 2025-26.
Washington County Public Schools announced plans to expand its Reading Tutor Apprenticeship program after reporting strong year‑one results at a Maryland State Board of Education meeting.
Superintendent David Sovine told the board the district’s pilot placed 35 high‑school tutors with nearly 700 elementary students this past year for one‑to‑one and small‑group supplemental instruction. “Nearly all, 97 percent of those elementary students show growth in their reading skills from the beginning to the end of the year,” Sovine said, and he added that “34 percent showed significant growth” while “53 percent…were no longer well below grade level or at risk.”
Sovine said the tutors receive training “in the science of reading” similar to the professional training given to WCPS teachers. He said the program benefits both groups: younger students get intensive support while high‑school apprentices gain paid classroom experience and exposure to the education profession.
Sovine said the district plans to scale the program next year, funded through the local general fund. “We’re going from 35 to 70, and we’re expanding into math,” he said. He told the board the district received 84 applications for the apprentice openings and selected 64 students, with nearly half of the selected tutors slated to focus on math for the coming year.
Board members asked about recruiting males and diversifying the teacher pipeline; Sovine said two graduating classes so far have led to 5 hires as paraprofessionals and 17 graduates working as substitutes while they pursue four‑year education degrees. He said the district supports graduates who choose education with hiring and some financial help for further study.
At the meeting, a short video from a student apprentice emphasized the program’s impact: she described working with pre‑K through second graders on phonics, phonemic awareness and fluency and said the experience “made me want to teach in the future.”
The board did not take formal action on the Washington County presentation. The district said it will continue reporting results and welcomed questions about implementation.
