Blog 6: Not a Handout—A Smart Investment in Proven Success

Not a Handout—A Smart Investment in Proven Success

In education, there are plenty of programs that make big promises—but ask schools to take big risks. They cost too much, require too much staff time, or come with too little evidence that they’ll actually move the needle.

Books, Bots, and Beyond is different.

We believe that every school deserves a chance to implement something that works—without betting the budget. That’s why we’ve built an innovative model that allows schools to prove the program for an entire year at no cost. No catch. No strings. Just partnership and proof.

Here’s how it works—and why it’s built for impact.

A Full Year. Free for Schools. Funded by Donors.

Each school that launches Books, Bots, and Beyond receives:

• A full year of programming (2 hours/day, 4 days/week)
  
  

• Expert instructors trained in both literacy and STEM
  
  

• Science of Reading-aligned IMSE curriculum
  
  

• STEM kits, student materials, and data tracking tools
  
  

The cost per student: approximately $6,000 for the year
The minimum site size: 5 students ($30,000 per site)

Thanks to the generosity of philanthropic donors, schools pay nothing during Year 1. Instead, schools agree to:

• Fully participate and implement the program with fidelity
  
  

• Collect and share progress data with our team
  
  

• Work with us to identify local, state, or federal funding streams to sustain the program in Year 2 and beyond
  
  

This model allows schools to see the results before they make a long-term commitment—a critical consideration for administrators managing tight resources and high accountability.

Not Charity—Strategy

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a giveaway. It’s an on-ramp to proven results, funded by individuals and organizations who believe in educational equity, literacy, and workforce readiness.

For donors, this is one of the most strategic investments they can make. Here’s why:

• It reaches students who are most at risk of falling behind
  
  

• It addresses both literacy and STEM learning gaps
  
  

• It’s data-driven, award-winning, and delivered by professionals
  
  

• It positions schools to sustain the program independently after success is shown
  
  

In short, it’s a program designed not just to exist, but to scale and last.

Results You Can Measure. Stories You’ll Never Forget.

We’ve seen it happen over and over again:

• A struggling reader becomes the group leader in a robotics build.
  
  

• A quiet 4th grader starts writing science journals—because now, reading has purpose.
  
  

• A principal sees student literacy scores jump—and immediately allocates Title I funds to continue the program.
  
  

And we have the data to back it up.

Books, Bots, and Beyond began as a pilot in partnership with the Dyslexic Edge which was recently named the #2 STEM program in Washington, DC. It's backed by:

• The IMSE Foundation (curriculum + funding leadership)
  
  

• The National Literacy Coalition (program management + national scaling)
  
  

• Strands of Accelerated Reading (SOAR) (expert delivery by IMSE certified educators)
  
  

This is what happens when smart design, passionate educators, and strategic philanthropy come together.

Be Part of the Story

We’re not asking for a handout.
We’re inviting you to join a movement.

📚 For school administrators: Let us help you implement a research-backed, high-impact after-school program without putting your budget at risk.

💡 For donors and philanthropists: Your investment funds more than just hours and materials. It fuels reading breakthroughs, confidence, career discovery, and long-term change.

This is your chance to say: “We’re not waiting. We’re building the future—right now.”

Sponsor a student. Fund a school. Change a life.