Gainesville, UF partnership strengthens early literacy for children

Published on February 04, 2026

A partnership between the City of Gainesville and the University of Florida (UF) is strengthening early literacy for local children while earning recognition as a best-practice model across Alachua County.

Through the City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA), Youth Services and Education Programs formally implemented a comprehensive, evidence-based literacy tutoring program in Fall 2025 in collaboration with the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). Six UFLI work-study tutors were embedded directly into city afterschool programs, providing literacy assessments and structured one-on-one tutoring to strengthen decoding and fluency skills. 

UFLI has since recognized the city’s approach as a “best practice” within its America Reads framework, citing strong program design, tutor integration, staff training and accountability. As a result, Gainesville leaders were invited to present the model to other afterschool providers across the county, including Kids Count, Girls Place, the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center and the Southwest Advocacy Group (SWAG). Kids Count, a longstanding America Reads program partner, also was asked to present based upon their model successes. 

“This partnership shows what’s possible when we work together with intention, and center youth in the process,” said Cherie Kelly, Manager of Youth Services and Education Programs for the city. “By bringing university tutors directly into our recreation centers, we are meeting kids where they are and creating meaningful, measurable progress that families can see and feel.”

The literacy tutoring program currently serves students in first through eighth grades at three PRCA afterschool sites: the Albert “Ray” Massey Recreation Center, Eastside Community Center and Porters Community Center. Participating youth primarily attend nearby schools — Littlewood, Williams, Lake Forest, Metcalfe, Rawlings and Parker — which also serve as transportation sites for the afterschool program.

Each participating child is paired with a consistent tutor able to provide multiple sessions a week, and students can request additional learning time as available. The process pulls in parents from the outset, giving them the opportunity to request tutoring based on their child’s individual needs. They also receive ongoing program communication and progress reports.

Since launch in October 2025, the program has delivered more than 160 hours of tutoring, reaching all children at Eastside Community Center and those with identified literacy needs and parent requests at Massey Recreation Center. City staff have recorded high levels of interest and engagement from students and their families and are fielding ongoing requests for additional tutoring opportunities. The program will continue into the Spring 2026 semester, with tutors armed with even more literacy strategies and resources through UFLI, which also brings in the arts and a book library. 

“Reading and writing are essential to long-term success, and this partnership reflects the city’s commitment to finding smart innovative solutions,” said Interim City Manager Andrew Persons. “By leveraging the expertise of the University of Florida and the trusted presence of our recreation centers, we have a model that can be easily replicated elsewhere with the same positive results.”

UFLI leaders noted that while the partnership with the city is relatively new, the program’s structure aligns with long-standing best practices and has already demonstrated strong outcomes for participating youth and families.