Name

Read On Arizona

Legal name

Read On Arizona

Website

https://readonarizona.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & Reading Intervention Technology (EDAJAMAF), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE), Early Literacy & Phonics Programs (EDAMAJAA), Literacy & Reading Intervention (Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKADAA)

Keywords

• Early literacy programs
• Collective impact initiative
• Literacy data tools
• Educator professional development
• School readiness coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: The Read On Arizona Collaborative Fund at Arizona Community Foundation accepts charitable contributions to support long-term sustainability and provides grants to Read On Communities for local literacy solutions.
2. Federal Grants: Major federal grants including $20M Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (2020, $4M/year over 5 years), $42M Preschool Development Grant Birth-5 renewal (2023), and $2M federal CLSD supplemental grant.
3. State Funding: State of Arizona investment of more than $100M of federal relief funds in early learning and literacy (2021). Arizona Department of Education $10M grant for Project CALL funding 5 local literacy hubs.
4. Philanthropic Investments: $2.8M in philanthropic investments over 3 years from Burton Family Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and The Steele Foundation for expansion and sustainability of collective impact backbone functions. $15.5M in targeted philanthropic investments aligned with shared strategic priorities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Read On Arizona operates as a statewide collective impact initiative coordinating public and private partners to improve early literacy for Arizona children from birth to age 8. It provides interactive data tools (MapLIT, Arizona Early Childhood Fiscal Map), evidence-based literacy resources (LitHubAZ, Smart Talk), educator professional development (K-5 Literacy Endorsement), and coordinates 20 local Read On Communities. All programs, resources, and tools are offered free of charge, funded through federal/state grants and philanthropic donations.

Product overview

Read On Arizona is Arizona's early literacy initiative launched in 2013, operating as a public/private collaboration rather than a single unified software product. The organization offers a portfolio of data tools (MapLIT, Arizona Early Childhood Fiscal Map, Explore AZ Schools, Native Nations and School Districts), resource platforms (LitHubAZ), family engagement programs (Smart Talk), and policy programs (Move On When Reading, Chronic Absence Resources). The core offering consists of data-driven tools and evidence-based literacy resources designed to improve school readiness and third grade reading proficiency across Arizona's children from birth to age 8. Read On Arizona also supports a network of 20+ Read On Communities across the state coordinating local literacy efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Literacy is the Key: Public awareness campaign to build understanding, commitment, and support for improving literacy in Arizona.
• LitHubAZ
• Smart Talk
• Move On When Reading
• MapLIT

Products and services

• MapLIT Arizona's comprehensive data tool for interactive mapping and summary reports on key data sets that impact school readiness and early literacy outcomes. Combines shared data from multiple state agencies and census data to help inform effective strategies, policies, and investments.
• LitHubAZ Free online literacy resource for educators, administrators, community partners, and families to find effective ways to help students learn to read at grade level. Offers evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate strategies including Effective Literacy Practices, High-Quality Instructional Materials, Dyslexia Resource Guide, and Smart Talk.
• Smart Talk Back-and-forth conversation program with young children from birth to age 3 to help develop language and literacy skills. Offers tips and information for parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals, available in English and Spanish.
• Arizona Early Childhood Fiscal Map
• Move On When Reading Arizona state policy combining state laws that help public and charter schools provide evidence-based, effective reading instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade. Includes requirements for screening, interventions, and third-grade retention policy with exemptions.
• Chronic Absence Resources Resources and toolkit addressing school attendance issues including the Arizona Chronic Absence Task Force recommendations, resource guide, and evidence-based strategies to reduce chronic absence and boost school attendance.
• Explore AZ Schools Resource helping parents learn about education options for their family from pre-k to high school. Allows searching by factors such as math and English language arts scores, full- or half-day kindergarten, and A-F school letter grades.
• Native Nations and School Districts Mapping tool to explore school districts within a 50-mile service radius of Tribal Nations to assist in tribal consultation and collaboration efforts to support Indigenous students enrolled in public schools.
• Read On Communities Network Network of 20 local community coalitions supporting local literacy efforts. Each Read On Community works with schools, districts, local governments, early learning programs, businesses, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations to coordinate and maximize collective efforts in improving school readiness and early literacy outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third grade reading proficiency increased from 40% (2015) to 46% (2019)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Arizona Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and key state agency collaborator. ADE developed successful Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant application and distributes state funding including $10M for Project CALL.
• Arizona Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and host organization for Read On Arizona Collaborative Fund. Provides backbone administrative support through Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.
• First Things FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner - voter-created statewide organization funding early education and health programs. Collaborated on Preschool Development Grant and CLSD application.
• Arizona State Board of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board member providing policy guidance and leadership. Chairs K-3 Literacy Ad Hoc Committee for literacy policy recommendations.
• Greater Phoenix LeadershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board member representing business leadership committed to education and workforce development.
• Eyes on LearningsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board member focused on quality early learning and school readiness.
• Arizona Head Start AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board member representing early childhood education providers.
• Maricopa Association of GovernmentssupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with Read On Arizona to develop MapLIT data tool and other mapping platforms.
• Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Read On Arizona to develop Smart Talk online instruction sessions for early childhood professionals.
• Read On TempecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 20 Read On Communities - local collaborative with schools, nonprofits, libraries, and community partners working toward third grade reading proficiency.
• Read On ChandlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 20 Read On Communities - collaborative of organizations and businesses committed to literacy and readiness skills for children birth through 5.
• Read On FlagstaffcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 20 Read On Communities - collaborative facilitated by Think Literacy and United Way of Northern Arizona.
• Read On PhoenixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 20 Read On Communities coordinating local literacy efforts in Phoenix.
• Read On San Carlos Apache TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst tribal Read On Community established in 2015.
• Valley of the Sun United WaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived $10M Arizona Department of Education funding for Project CALL: Collaborating to Accelerate Literacy and Learning to establish literacy hubs.
• Arizona PBSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived $961,000 for PBS Kids Super WHY Camp early literacy pre-kindergarten summer program.
• Childsplay AZsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived $602,000 for EYEPlay program preparing teachers to enrich literacy and language development for preschool students.
• Attendance WorkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing training for Arizona educators on evidence-based strategies to promote attendance. Read On Arizona secured funding for training programs.
• WestEdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research organization providing expertise on chronic absence research and attendance improvement strategies.
• Campaign For Grade-Level ReadingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative that recognizes Arizona as an exemplar for Grade-Level Reading communities across the nation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• First Book: First Book is a national nonprofit that provides low-cost books and educational resources to programs serving children in need — an adjacent enabling organization whose book distribution model supports early literacy initiatives like Read On Arizona at the ecosystem level.

Broad incumbents

• Raising A Reader: Raising A Reader is a national nonprofit that partners with schools and early childhood programs to engage families in shared reading routines and book rotation — directly comparable to Read On Arizona's family engagement and early literacy mission, though operating across multiple states.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a global book-gifting program that mails free age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5 — comparable to Read On Arizona's family-facing early literacy engagement and book access priorities, though operating at vastly larger scale.
• Reading Is Fundamental: Reading Is Fundamental is a longstanding national literacy nonprofit focused on book access and literacy motivation for children — operating at a broader geographic scale with similar child literacy outcomes as Read On Arizona's evidence-based strategies.
• Campaign for Grade-Level Reading: The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a national collaborative of funders, nonprofits, and business leaders that recognizes and supports local Grade-Level Reading communities — Read On Arizona is a recognized Pacesetter community under this umbrella, making it both a partner and the broader coordinating incumbent.
• Reach Out and Read: Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit that partners with pediatricians to promote early literacy through book distribution and family coaching — comparable to Read On Arizona's family-facing early literacy engagement work (e.g., Smart Talk), though operating through a different delivery channel.

Direct peers

• Read Charlotte: Read Charlotte is a collective impact initiative in Charlotte-Mecklenburg focused on improving third grade reading proficiency, operating with a similar backbone-organization model coordinating across schools, funders, and community partners — directly comparable to Read On Arizona's structure and mission.
• National Center for Families Learning: The National Center for Families Learning (formerly National Center for Family Literacy) focuses on family literacy and two-generation learning approaches — directly comparable to Read On Arizona's family engagement (Smart Talk) and intergenerational literacy focus.
• Read by 4th (Philadelphia): Read by 4th is a citywide collective impact campaign in Philadelphia mobilizing cross-sector partners to ensure all children read on grade level by fourth grade, using a similar backbone coordination model with funder collaboratives and community-based Read On-style local coalitions.

Regional players

• Smart Beginnings (Virginia): Smart Beginnings is a regional network of Virginia early childhood coalitions supporting school readiness — comparable to Read On Arizona's 20-community network model, though operating regionally in Virginia rather than as a single statewide initiative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/readonarizona
• Facebookfacebook.com/readonarizona
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/read-on-arizona

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Read On Arizona