OpenLiteracy and Delaware State University Partner to Train Teacher Residents as Literacy Intervention Facilitators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2025
New partnership will strengthen teacher preparation while expanding high-quality literacy support for Delaware students.
OpenLiteracy announced today a new partnership with Delaware State University (DSU) to train and support teacher residents as facilitators of Elevate, OpenLiteracy’s high-impact, Tier II literacy intervention, in school districts across Delaware for the 2025–2026 school year.
Through this innovative collaboration, DSU teacher residents will deliver Elevate to students as part of their university coursework. The model provides teacher candidates with hands-on experience in conducting small-group reading instruction aligned with the science of reading, using high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). This will deepen their skills in delivering targeted reading support that complements Tier 1 classroom instruction.
“This partnership is a win-win for students and future teachers,” said Sarah Scott Frank, Ph.D, CEO at OpenLiteracy. “Delaware students will have greater access to research-based, small-group literacy support, aligned with the science of reading, while teacher residents gain meaningful, practice-based preparation aligned with everything we know about best practices in teaching children how to read. This will serve them for their entire careers.”
Teacher residents will receive comprehensive training and ongoing support from OpenLiteracy’s team of learning specialists, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver instruction that accelerates reading growth. By embedding Elevate facilitation into teacher preparation, DSU is strengthening its commitment to producing educators who are ready to meet the diverse literacy needs of their students from day one.
“Partnering with OpenLiteracy aligns perfectly with our mission to prepare effective, equity-focused educators,” said Crystal Timmons, Ed.D., Director, Office of Clinical Practice and Partnerships at DSU. “This initiative not only benefits our residents’ professional development but also directly supports Delaware schools in achieving reading proficiency for all students.”
The partnership reflects a growing recognition that bridging teacher preparation with evidence-based literacy interventions can yield transformative results for both educators and students.
About OpenLiteracy
OpenLiteracy partners with schools and communities to deliver high-impact, research-based literacy tutoring that accelerates student learning. OpenLiteracy’s high-impact 1:1 tutoring provides targeted support for students delivered by certified teachers, while their Tier II Elevate program provides districts, out of school time programs, and universities with access to all of OpenLiteracy’s curriculum and support team while empowering their staff to lead high-quality small group instruction. You can learn more at www.openliteracy.com.
Media Contact
Tabitha Grossman-Nelson
Director of External Relations
tabitha.grossman-nelson@openliteracy.com
