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Empowering Teens.
Advancing Youth Literacy.
Strengthening America’s Communities.
Training tomorrow’s leaders to teach today’s youth—providing free, 1-on-1 literacy support so every child can pursue liberty, learning, and the American dream.
Based in Austin, TX, we host in-person family chess nights and literacy workshops locally, and offer virtual tutoring to students anywhere.
Quick Impact Snapshot:
1
Over 400 free, customized tutoring sessions delivered.
2
90% of students improved by at least one target grade level in word recognition, oral reading accuracy, oral reading rate, or comprehension.
3
We prioritize families in public housing or receiving government housing assistance.
About
Mission
We train high-achieving teens as tutors to deliver free, customized 1:1 literacy support to America’s youth who need it the most.
About Us
We pair trained teen mentors with younger readers for one-on-one sessions. This cross-age model makes practice fun, strengthens confidence, and helps kids read more smoothly and understand what they read while families stay in the loop and pay nothing. (Chang, A. and Mauer, E. (2024), Five Recommendations to Implementing Cross-Age Tutoring in Reading. Read Teach, 78: 113-120. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2351)
Why We Exist
Too many students begin school below grade level in reading and never catch up. This gap has lasting consequences for education, career opportunities, and civic participation. Literacy has been a tool for empowerment throughout American history once forbidden to some, yet always sought after by those who knew it was the key to freedom. We honor that legacy by making high-quality literacy instruction accessible to families in public housing and low-income communities at no cost to them.
Our Model
We believe literacy is a gateway to liberty. Our approach blends:
Customized Instruction
Targeted reading lessons based on each student’s literacy ability and personal interest.
Representation-Rich Content
Stories and historical texts that spark curiosity and inspire a love of reading.
Mentorship
High-achieving teens (Joy Corps) are trained and paid to tutor and mentor younger students.
Partnerships and Sponsors
At Joyous Tutoring, we believe literacy is the gateway to liberty—and we make it accessible through programs that blend one-on-one instruction, mentorship, and community connection.
Austin Pathways
We partner with Austin Pathways of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) to bring high-impact literacy support to residents. At Pathways at Northgate, our trained teen mentors provide on-site, 1:1 tutoring at no cost to families.
East Communities YMCA
At East Communities YMCA, we host Family Chess Nights every Wednesday, 5–7 PM, and provide on-site tutoring and Story Time for families.
Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors the City of Austin, H-E-B, QuikTrip & Inka Branding whose support powers our work across our city. Their partnership makes it possible for more students to receive 1:1 literacy support.
Contact Us
Feel free to contact us for more information about our English school projects. We are here to support your academic journey.
Our Testimonials
At Joyous Tutoring, we believe literacy is the gateway to liberty—and we make it accessible through programs that blend one-on-one instruction, mentorship, and community connection.
"My child is more confident. After the last tutoring session, he said, “Mom, I read a chapter book!"
Shamica, Joyous Parent
"My child is more confident. After the last tutoring session, he said, “Mom, I read a chapter book!"
Shamica, Joyous Parent
"My child is more confident. After the last tutoring session, he said, “Mom, I read a chapter book!"
Shamica, Joyous Parent