Hillsborough County Students Show Remarkable Gains in Literacy Through Read 180 Program

Significant Literacy Improvements at Hillsborough County Schools

In a remarkable turn of events, students at Hillsborough County Public Schools are achieving substantial progress in their literacy skills, thanks to the implementation of HMH’s evidence-based intervention program, Read 180. Serving the Tampa, Florida area, this district is now seeing increased proficiency among its high school learners, particularly those who have struggled for years.

During the 2025–26 academic year, over 7,000 high school students engaged with Read 180, a program designed to cater to learners needing intensive support. The unique blend of teacher-led instruction, personalized practice, and the use of actionable data has driven considerable growth in student literacy over the past two years.

Evidence shows that the percentage of students participating in Read 180 and achieving proficiency on Florida's ELA FAST assessment rose dramatically from only 5% in the 2023-24 school year to an impressive 23% in 2025-26—a remarkable 18 percentage-point increase. Furthermore, those demonstrating full-level growth also saw a significant rise from 18% to 49% within the same time frame.

Tracie Bergman, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Hillsborough County Public Schools, emphasized the importance of these gains at the high school level. “Meaningful literacy gains are especially significant at the high school level, where many striving readers have faced challenges for years,” she noted. Recognizing that intensive reading students weren't making the expected growth, the district turned to structured support and resources to fill the gap.

The partnership with HMH reflects a dedication to outcomes-based education; about half of HMH's contract value is connected to students meeting designated goals on state assessments. Hillsborough County took bold steps by setting specific student outcome targets, ensuring adequate instructional time, and conducting regular data reviews. HMH, in turn, committed to goals regarding program implementation and ongoing professional development for educators.

Amy Dunkin, President of Intervention Solutions and English Language Development at HMH, described outcomes-based contracting as a promising model. “Districts invest in high-quality programs like Read 180 because they want students to become stronger readers. We do, too,” she stated, spotlighting the collective efforts required to align goals and drive student success offerings.

The significant academic progress gained through this initiative has encouraged Hillsborough County to expand its investment in literacy interventions. As a result, educators voted to implement Read 180 across all district high schools, and select middle schools plan to introduce it in 2026-27, allowing even more students to benefit.

Read 180 stands as a testament to 25 years of research and successful practices in education. This blended learning program pairs teacher-led instruction with adaptive technology, seeking to support struggling readers from grades 3 through 12. Additionally, the program incorporates the latest literacy strategies to provide personalized support, effectively addressing gaps in student learning.

In today’s educational landscape, outcomes-based contracting emerges as a viable approach to enhancing student achievement amidst budget constraints and other persistent challenges. While much remains to be uncovered about implementing and scaling these partnerships across various districts, Hillsborough's impressive results illustrate the model's capability to synchronize district investments with measurable student outcomes.

To discover more about Read 180 and its effectiveness, visit the official HMH website.