Beyond Basics, a literacy-focused nonprofit in Detroit, has launched its 2020 holiday appeal campaign. The organization offers students and adults an intensive, one-on-one reading intervention through online tutoring offerings. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Beyond Basics has been looking for a way to reach students while physical school buildings are closed. Online access is now available to students across the country, opening up the proven program for more children. Beyond Basics is offering online tutoring both for individual students and for school districts as an option for their distance learning plans. The tutoring uses a combination of the Steve Tattum method currently practiced by Beyond Basics and additional reading instruction methods. More information on online tutoring for parents, students, and educators is available at beyondbasics.org. The organization works locally with schools in Detroit, Taylor, and Pontiac. One local student, Kasean, participated in Beyond Basics’ literacy program and as a result he improved his reading and writing skills considerably, and he won a school-wide writing competition as an 8th grader.
