Using an AI reading tutor for 30 minutes a week can double a struggling reader's chance of catching up.

Learning to read is essential, and young kids learn best with direct instruction in phonics, which connects letters to sounds. Human tutoring helps, but it takes lots of time and resources. Researchers tested an artificial-intelligence tool called the Project Read Tutor across four schools. Kids practiced phonics directly on the digital tutor, but how much they actually practiced made all the difference. Most children used it only a little bit. However, students who practiced fifteen minutes or more each week scored much higher on end-of-year reading tests than those who barely used it. Adding just ten minutes of practice each week led to clear gains. The practice helped struggling readers and students with disabilities the most. It boosted scores strongly on the specific letter-sound skills taught by the tutor, and it also improved reading fluency. Merely having the software was not enough; the actual practice time drove growth.

Why it matters

For schools with limited budgets, this means the key isn't just buying a reading app—it's making sure students actually use it enough. Struggling readers and students with disabilities benefit most, suggesting targeted, high-dosage use could narrow achievement gaps without expensive one-on-one tutoring.

Questions answered