More than 32 states have now mandated Science of Reading instruction, a meaningful shift toward evidence-based literacy. But as schools race to implement phonics-grounded programs, a critical gap has gone mostly unaddressed: the millions of multilingual students in K–5 classrooms who are learning to read in a language they're simultaneously still acquiring.

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Today, ROYO is closing that gap. We're launching multilingual and English Language Learner (ELL) capabilities that bring together Science of Reading–aligned phonics instruction and four-domain language practice, all inside personalized, student-centered stories where every child sees themselves as the main character.

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ROYO is one of the first Science of Reading platforms to bridge structured phonics instruction with designated language development for multilingual learners.

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Multilingual learners in K–5 deserve the same time and effort we give them in middle and high school. When we assume that being immersed in a classroom counts as English Language Development, we are doing a huge disservice to students in their prime years of language acquisition.

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"Multilingual learners in K-5 deserve the same time and effort we give them in middle and high school. When we assume that being immersed in a classroom counts as English Language Development, we are doing a huge disservice to students in their prime years of language acquisition," said Yasmin Barkett, Founder & CEO of ROYO. “As a simultaneous bilingualist, I understand how critical that window is. ROYO bridges the Science of Reading with designated language development so ML students get what they deserve, even when their teacher doesn't speak their language."

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“Language is the architecture for thinking. If multilingual learners are only taught to decode, without meaning and context, they can read the words but not understand them,” notes Katherine Nelson, Language and Literacy Specialist. “Integrating language development is what makes literacy instruction truly effective, and that’s where ROYO is making a difference.”

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That last part matters. Teachers are at the center of ROYO's design, not sidelined by it. They can customize phonics instruction, build sight word lists, and track fluency, accuracy, and progress in real time, without spending hours on prep. Since launching, ROYO has helped thousands of educators reclaim that time while reaching more students than ever.

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20,000+

students served

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4,500+

teachers supported

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250,900+

personalized books generated

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Teachers using ROYO report saving five or more hours per week on lesson prep and progress tracking, time that goes back to the moments that matter most: actual teaching.

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ROYO's new multilingual and ELL features are available now for K–5 classrooms, literacy intervention programs, and at-home use. Schools and districts interested in joining a spring pilot are encouraged to reach out.

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Ready to bring ROYO to your school or district? Get in touch at hello@royo.ai 

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