4 Weeks to Accelerated Reading Growth. One Term to Transformation.
Tournaments don't just boost engagement. They create the conditions where real literacy growth becomes visible. When 98% of students activate (vs. 63% nationally) and 83% keep playing after the competition ends, you're not running a program. You're starting a movement.
The Activation Problem
Every school has a graveyard of EdTech licenses, tools that promised transformation but gathered digital dust. The problem isn't the technology. It's activation.
Students don't use most literacy programs because there's no compelling reason to start. Tournaments change that equation entirely.
Students compete together, not in isolation. When the whole class is playing, momentum builds naturally.
Leaderboards, celebrations, and recognition create stakes that matter to adolescents.
4 weeks of focused effort, not endless obligation. Clear start, clear finish, clear goals.
When the whole school is playing, opting out feels wrong. Peer pressure works in your favor.
"Students weren't just completing assignments. They were begging to play. That's the difference between compliance and engagement."— Teacher, Purcell Intermediate School
Proven Results
75% of students exceeded the 100 LMD goal (industry average is less than 10%). This wasn't a spike that disappeared. 83% of students continued playing after the tournament ended.
98.2% of teachers actively participated. Survey results: 4.5/5 overall experience rating. Teachers saw the difference engagement makes.
Schools ranged from +1 to +4 months of reading comprehension growth in just 4 weeks. Tammie Mackey's students at Purcell Intermediate averaged 1.2 grade levels of growth.
"Shoelace helped my reluctant readers by making reading skills practice feel like a game. Its interactive activities, rewards, and progress tracking kept students motivated and engaged, turning reading into something fun rather than frustrating."— Teacher, Purcell Intermediate
How It Works
| Metric | Goal | OK Tournament Result |
|---|---|---|
| License Activation | >80% | 91.1% |
| Weekly LMDs | 25/student | 135/student |
| Accuracy | >50% | 55% average |
| RCL Growth | +0.1/month | +0.4 (fidelity students) |
Choose Your Scale
Tournaments are included in our Shoelace Acceleration Model (2 per year) or available as an add-on to our Engagement Package. See all packages →
For individual schools testing engagement-first literacy
For school systems seeking proof points before scale
For state initiatives, ESAs, and strategic partners
Scale Through Networks
Tournaments work best when they're embedded in existing networks. We partner with:
Like OPSRC in Oklahoma
Aligned with state goals and reporting
Multi-school coordination
LEAD Schools, Spark Schools, ENKO
Through OPSRC, Oklahoma schools accessed the Fall 2025 statewide tournament with 50% member discount and $1,000 grants for early adopters. Results: 1,240 students across multiple school systems, 670,289 learning moments, measurable reading growth.
From the Classroom
"Students enjoyed tracking their progress against other classes and celebrating successes together, which helped build a positive attitude within the classroom."— Purcell Intermediate
"The gaming aspect of the game is tremendously enticing to our reluctant readers."— Purcell Intermediate
"Students were much more engaged with this game."— Jennings Public Schools
"I'm excited to use the data and apply it to intervention."— Dawn Perigo, 5th Grade
"It is extremely helpful to have the text-to-speech for reluctant readers as I encourage them to attempt the read and then listen for clarification."— Purcell Intermediate
"The 5th graders loved the games. They were engaged and willing to interact on the platform day after day."— Tammy Mackey, 5th Grade
Accelerated reading growth in as little as 4 weeks—guaranteed.
Start with a 4-week tournament. See activation rates your other programs can't match. Get data that proves engagement drives growth.
Schedule a Tournament Planning CallBring tournaments to your network. Co-brand, co-market, and share in the outcomes. We're looking for partners who want to lead literacy transformation in their region.
Explore Partnership Opportunities