Institute of Reading DevelopmentReviews of readingprograms.org

Not at all what I expected! I wanted to prepare my daughter for VPK in a fun and interactive classroom with myself and her peers. The instructor was very boring and did not seem to be prepared! We sat in our seats the whole time! Kids never interacted with one another! Differentiation is so important in teaching.

I was so disappointed with the program I enrolled my 7 year old in. My child is entering second grade and while we did the work during the week, what impacts a child is the in class time. The first session started 40 minutes late because the teacher did not show up and then couldn’t get access to the building. This time was not offered to be made up, unless we wanted to do an online make up class which is not the same as the in class time. The last class we were given a sub who showed up 20 min late. At the last class you are supposed to have a time where the teacher talks to you on how your child did over the 6 week period. Given that the sub had no clue how my child progressed, this was worthless. The time was not offered to be made up and once again was just lost. The program is expensive and when you call to discuss issues you are given the run around. Please use your money on a private tutor and do not waste it on this program.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!! I just called just to ask a question if I needed to attend every class with my daughter if I enroll her. She is entering 8th grade and I cannot take time off from work to attend the classes. After confirming that I do not have to be there for the classes, the rep kept telling me over and over again that she can check to see if the class is available in my area, and that she can sign up my daughter for the class right now over the phone. I told her that I have all the info in front of me on my laptop and I will do it myself, and I was just calling to confirm that I do not have to be at the classes. After a brief 2 sec pause she said"Learn to be nice Lady"!!!!!!!! What the what!!!!!!! I guess she assumed I had hung up. They should record all conversations for training purposes!

I signed my son up for the reading program to prepare him for kindergarten after receiving a flyer from my son's school. He is enrolled in a public school Montessori program that includes children from age 3 to sixth grade. I called in within the 14 days window to withdraw my son from the program because I thought he was already doing what the kindergarten course incorporated. I spoke to a customer service rep who insisted that I should take my son to the first grade class for one session to try it out. The first session was a mess. The teacher did not have enough books. There were not enough seats. One child was upset and walked out. My son did not seem to be interested in the course. In fact, he cried when he had to do every online lesson. I tried emailing the customer rep to be dropped from the course, and she did not respond. I called and was directed to someone else who got loud and upset at me for not knowing the Satisfaction Guarantee policy. I am getting the run around from everyone I talk to, and it is similar to buying a lemon. This program is a lemon. I will be sharing my experience with the school's PTA, principal, teachers, and parents.

I signed my daughter up for a class with the Reading Program and it was simple to get signed up. However, I wasn't told about the policy that a parent has to attend class with their child and due to family scheduling I am unable to attend every class. I found out about the policy only one week before the class was scheduled to begin which, conveniently for them, is outside of their cancellation window. When I called to request a refund, I was on hold for 15 minutes on two separate occasions and then hung up on the third time I called. I finally spoke with someone after being on hold again for 10 minutes and was told they would have to review my phone call to confirm that I wasn't told this vital policy. Having to confirm that your customer is correct is BAD BUSINESS. I'm still waiting to find out if I'll be refunded and will be issuing a charge back with my credit card company. I would never recommend this program and will be contacting the associated university to let them know how their name is being used. Horrible service.

Very nice explanation was nice and clear

This program is incredibly expensive and terrible. Do Not Send Your Kid Here!!! My son went in 1st grade and the 2nd day the teacher shamed him and said he jumps around too much and he wouldn’t be a good fit. So I called to cancel and they forced me to do an online program instead and I never could figure it out. I never chose the online program, what I did see it was outdated and terrible graphics. I spent over 400.00 for nothing !!!! John I would require a refund because if you did follow up with me and your representatives did see that my child never was able to get in the online or never accomplished one assignment online, you would be true to your reply comment

I tried this program for kindergarten, and they gave books with high frequency words. My daughter did not benefit from this program. You have to be there for each class so you could teach them to read. It's not a small class and they can be easily distracted. It cost too much for what you pay for. They don't give you the money back, if the program is not for you. Look, go to Amazon and buy some learning ready materials, work books, and sight words activity. I bought $100 worth of reading material, work books, and games. I did an hour twice a week with workbooks, read 20 minutes a day, and played sight games or math. She reads fluently and likes to write.