Success for All Featured on Sold A Story
We’re excited to share that Success for All (SFA) is featured in the latest episodes of Sold a Story, the acclaimed podcast by Emily Hanford, Senior Producer and Correspondent at American Public Media (APM).
Sold a Story has sparked a nationwide conversation about the science of reading and the need for evidence-based instruction. In search of solutions, Emily visited Success for All schools to explore how our whole-school improvement model, designed to ensure every child succeeds and achieves at the highest levels, is changing outcomes for students.
Three new Sold a Story episodes featuring Success for All recently released. We’ve included links to the podcasts, along with an accompanying article, below.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Success for All can help your district and/or school achieve at the highest levels and create a joyful, positive learning environment where everyone succeeds, click on the Learn more button below – we’d love to hear from you.
THE OUTLIER, Episode 11: Emily Hanford visits an SFA district in Steubenville, Ohio that’s defying every odd. We often tell people, “SFA is more than just a reading program!” In just 30-minutes, Emily, along with the educators and students in Steubenville, paints a very clear picture of exactly how.
Read the article HERE.
THE EVIDENCE, Episode 12: Emily Hanford details the origins of Success for All, its research, and the decades of evidence proving its impact on schools like those in Steubenville, Ohio, to advance student achievement, increase attendance, and sustain long-term success. With states now making lists of approved science of reading programs, this episode explores why true evidence-based practices matter, and how schools can make a real difference in the lives of children.
THE LIST, Episode 13: This episode explores the disconnect between what states deem “evidence-based” and the actual research behind reading programs. It also highlights the challenges of relying on rigid checklists rather than actual outcomes, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change in literacy instruction.
“When anybody asks, ‘Why do we have success?’ we start with SFA.”
-Steubenville Superintendent, Melinda Young
“Success for All is one of only two whole-school reform models that rigorous research has proven to work.”
– Sold a Story Podcast
What Is Success for All?
For more than 40 years, Success for All (SFA) has proven that every child can learn to read when schools commit to a systematic, evidence-based approach that supports students, teachers, and leadership at every level.
SFA is not just another reading program. It’s a whole-school model built on the science of reading and the science of learning. Unlike traditional curriculum packages, which focus only on materials and lesson plans, SFA helps schools transform instruction, school structures, leadership, and support systems to ensure every child becomes a confident reader.
What Sets SFA Apart?
- Comprehensive support: SFA integrates leadership coaching, teacher training, structured lesson cycles, student tutoring, and family engagement into a cohesive system.
- Science-backed practices: Every aspect of SFA—from phonics instruction to cooperative learning—is rooted in rigorous research and refined through decades of implementation.
- Measurable results: SFA has been extensively studied, with research showing higher reading achievement, fewer students held back, and lower rates of special education referrals.
- A proven solution for struggling schools: As highlighted in Sold a Story, Steubenville, Ohio, adopted SFA 25 years ago and has continued to outperform districts with far greater resources.
If your district is serious about improving literacy outcomes, Success for All is the evidence-based solution that delivers lasting results.
Download our FAQ to learn how SFA works, the research behind it, and how schools are seeing transformative results.
Too Many Students Struggle to Read – We Know How to Fix It
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed a continued decline in reading scores across the nation:
- Only 31% of 4th graders scored proficient on the reading assessment.
- Among economically disadvantaged students, just 19% scored proficient.
At Success for All, we’re telling a different story. We don’t just equip schools with a science of reading-backed curriculum. We work alongside leaders and teachers to strengthen how reading is taught. Our model focuses on helping educators put the right supports in place and ensure a clear, effective pathway for every child’s deep engagement and lasting success in reading and beyond.
SFA Gives Educators the Tools They Need to Reach Every Child
SFA isn’t just a literacy program. It’s a school-wide model designed to build success, confidence, and literacy success in every child.
Notable examples from 2024–2025:
Proven effective in more than 50 independent studies
- Built on decades of research into how children learn to read.
- Fully aligned with the science of reading AND the science of learning.
- Schools implementing SFA see significant gains in reading scores.
- Helps close achievement gaps for historically underserved students.
Data-driven instruction for real time student support
- Teachers receive embedded assessment tools to guide instruction.
- Our model ensures students get timely, targeted interventions before they fall behind.
On-going, expert coaching for educators
- Guidance for leaders on building strong teams and developing leaders at every level – school, classroom, student.
- Ongoing coaching and professional development to deliver exceptional instruction.
- A structured yet flexible framework for classroom success.
Scalable and flexible implementation
- Successfully implemented in thousands of schools.
- Customizable to fit district needs.
- Designed for sustainability and long-term success.
A Comprehensive School-Wide Model
When schools partner with SFA, they can expect:
- Immediate, measurable improvements in literacy rates.
- Empowered, supported teachers who feel prepared to teach reading effectively.
- Students who can solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and interact with others productively.
- Engaged parents and a school community working together to promote literacy.
- A positive, sustained shift in school culture focused on continuous improvement.
Schools using SFA experience an average literacy gain equivalent to 203 extra days of instruction per year.
Real Schools, Real Results
See how Success for All transforms schools, classrooms, and students. Hear from teachers and administrators who have experienced the impact firsthand.
Amina Naseer
Teacher – Baltimore, MD
Brie Buckler
Teacher – Susanville, CA
Andrea Evans
Teacher – Baltimore, MD
Read about the success of our recent Dr. Robert Slavin Award winner, Texhoma Elementary
SFA combines evidenced-based research into a proven, powerful framework that helps every child experience signficant literacy success – within weeks.
Scholarships Available for Title I Elementary Schools
Schools using SFA see stronger reading outcomes, improved teacher retention, fewer referrals to special education, and healthier school systems overall. And most schools sustain the program for as little as $25 per student annually.
Now, through the generosity of a private donor, we’re offering implementation scholarships to help offset first-year implementation costs.
These scholarships are available to Title I–eligible public, private, and charter elementary schools ready to build a system that ensures every child learns to read.
Apply today and see how quickly SFA can change the trajectory for your school. Email knovotny@successforall.org to learn more.