Sliding Scale Explanation

Part 1: Value of our services

Sunnyside Literacy Lab’s model has been developed to provide the highest quality of educational services in NYC. Learn more about the design elements that make up our model.

Group structure: Our groups are capped at three students, and we only match students in groups within a similar age range and reading level. That means that families may be waitlisted even while groups operate below capacity. We never cancel groups based on low attendance. 

No missed sessions: Sessions are never cancelled when the educator is absent. This requires a fully trained secondary adult to be present for support.

Makeup sessions: All packages include two makeup sessions. As a fair employer, we pay educators regardless of student attendance. 

Educator quality: All of our educators work as full-time professionals and have their master’s degrees. We pay them professional wages to retain them. This means your child gets to work with a motivated and supported professional for an extended period of time.

Educator supervision and professional development: Our educators are supervised and provided with feedback to improve their practice. We hold paid coaching meetings to review feedback. In addition, educators complete paid training on the curriculum before it is taught to your child, so they are never learning alongside the child. 

Curriculum review: Every trimester, we review our curriculum and make improvements based on the latest research in literacy and student interest. We never stick with something that doesn’t work because it’s easier. 

Community: Our most significant value is the community we create. Families have opportunities to connect through workshops, one-on-one conferences, and phone calls whenever needed. We are always there for our families. This investment requires time, care, and energy from our professional staff.