As a school counselor, I have witnessed first-hand the incalculable impact that learning to read can have. A student who acts out, is isolated or discouraged, suddenly blossoms. I remember one student in particular who struggled academically up through middle school. Many thought he would never learn to read or get a regular high school diploma. His teacher/tutor took him under her wing, applied the solid reading instruction principles that she knew, and it was like the world opened up for this young man. He became bright and engaged in all of his courses. He went on to graduate from high school and attend a state college. This isn’t just about teaching reading, it is about shifting life-course trajectory.