Reaching further…
For over 40 years, DTP has been focused on building literacy in Baltimore one reader at a time. Make no mistake, those efforts unleashed untold potential and made dreams reality for countless individuals with learning differences in Baltimore over the years. But 2026 ushered in a new approach, one that aims to go beyond the individual – and Baltimore – to address the systemic barriers to literacy, economic mobility and social capital facing students from under-invested communities. Barriers that compound challenges for these dyslexic learners and rob our communities of their potential. So we are evolving to become an organization that not only changes individual lives, but the very environments that shape them.
Planting Seeds…
Our partnership with Morgan State University (MSU) and the National Center For the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED) is just the beginning of this vision. Our MSU tutors – trained in Q1 – will begin working with DTP students in Q2, piloting a high-dosage tutoring model (twice a week v. once a week) and testing our new Progress Monitoring Tools suite. We’ll be taking lessons learned from this inaugural incubator to refine the program for rollout to other colleges and university partners in the coming 2026/2027 school year.
Embedding Support…
We are excited to announce our embedded structured literacy initiative, which will deliver training based on Orton-Gillingham and the Science of Reading directly to active teachers in local schools. This initiative fulfills a long-sought opportunity to expand DTP’s impact beyond current geographic limits and take Structured Literacy intervention directly to those who need it – where they need it – via satellite programs. After 6 plus months of planning and preparation, our first 2 cohorts will launch in Q2 at Bodkin Elementary in Anne Arundel County and the Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore City. By equipping teachers to recognize dyslexic learning styles in their school communities and respond with informed, evidence-based instruction, DTP removes financial and transportation barriers facing underserved students and families, and turns their school environment into a local hub of specialized support, laying a foundation for long-term, scalable impact.
Building the Engine…
Our evolution is looking inward as well – to refine processes, improve efficiencies, and expand capacity. We made significant progress on all three fronts heading into 2026: operational audits, new website, increased staffing and contracted expertise, and tools to help diversify funding. As we look toward Q2 we are striving to double our served population, laying the groundwork for a new database to support greater numbers, using software to help us tap new revenue streams, and exploring partnerships that will allow us to support our students’ entire journey from literacy through independence, personal fulfillment and professional success.
Leveraging Community…
We know that learning differences don’t disappear after high school. For dyslexic learners, navigating work, higher education and life demands ongoing support and strong self advocacy. DTP recognizes the exceptional services available through community organizations in workforce development, college/career readiness, and social/emotional wellbeing. We are actively seeking opportunities to partner with other nonprofits and employers to help us build pathways to personal and professional fulfillment for our students. So their journey starts with reading, but has no limits.
If you’re interested in partnering with DTP or just starting a conversation, please email our Executive Director, Dalbin Osorio.
By Robin Murphy, Director of Programs & Impact