The PennZone

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - PennZone -- Arkansas is taking meaningful steps to strengthen early literacy, and we are proud to be an approved partner in this important work.

With the passage of the LEARNS Act, the state has reinforced its commitment to improving literacy outcomes for students across Arkansas. As part of this effort, the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is rolling out additional supports, including Literacy Coaches, a universal literacy screener, and the new Arkansas Literacy Tutoring Grant Program.

This grant program provides eligible families with up to $1500 to be used specifically for literacy tutoring services for K–3 students who need additional reading support. These funds are designed to help families access high-quality, evidence-based tutoring that aligns with the science of reading.

Expanding Access Beyond the Grant

While we are honored to be an approved provider for the Arkansas Literacy Tutoring Grant Program, we also recognize that not every family will qualify for state funding. To ensure broader access to literacy support, we are extending our literacy tutoring rates to all families, not just those who receive grant funding.

Our goal is to remove barriers and provide consistent, high-quality reading instruction to as many students as possible during these critical early years.

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What Makes This Program Different

The Arkansas Literacy Tutoring Grant Program connects families with state-approved tutors who meet rigorous qualifications. Approved tutors must be certified teachers or hold degrees in education, English, or related fields demonstrating literacy expertise. All tutors are also trained in the science of reading, ensuring instruction is research-based and effective. We are proud that families can choose our program knowing instruction is grounded in proven literacy practices.

Student Eligibility (Grant-Funded)

• K–2 students who scored at or below state-identified percentile benchmarks
• Third-grade students who scored at or below the 25th percentile on the prior end-of-year literacy assessment
• Current third-grade students who were not promoted and are repeating third grade
• Eligible students are identified directly by DESE in partnership with school districts.

Supporting Families at Every Level

School districts will notify families of eligibility in stages, and families who qualify may apply for grant funding and select an approved tutoring provider. For families who do not qualify, our extended literacy rates remain available so students can still receive targeted reading support.

We believe early literacy is foundational to lifelong learning, confidence, and opportunity. Partnering with the state and extending support beyond the grant allows us to serve families with integrity and purpose.

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Background

In November 2025, Huntington Learning Center of Russellville marked its one-year anniversary and announced grant-aligned pricing to expand access to high-quality tutoring; see the prior announcement on PRLog for additional context. Huntington Learning Center Marks 1 Year Anniversary

Enroll Today

Call 1‑800 CAN‑LEARN or visit huntingtonhelps.com to secure your child's spot. First sessions start immediately; families who later receive grant eligibility can be served under the state grant once eligibility is confirmed.

Learn More (Official ADE Sources)

• ADE Tutoring Services (program overview): https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/tutoring-services
• ADE Tutoring Playbook 2025–2026 (PDF): https://adecm.ade.arkansas.gov/Attachments/2025-2026_AR_Tutoring_Playbook_8.25_155243.pdf

About Huntington Learning Center of Russellville

Huntington helps students build the skills, confidence, and motivation to succeed through personalized instruction delivered by certified instructors using evidence-based methods. The Russellville center partners with families and schools to close gaps and accelerate growth for K–12 students. huntingtonhelps.com