Chicago, IL, May 1, 2023 — The Vistria Group’s Phil Alphonse shared his perspective on the growing needs within K-12 education and The Vistria Group’s role in meeting those needs in a Crain’s Chicago Business op-ed published as part of a series that explores public policy issues important to Chicago’s business community.
In his piece “A research-based approach to teaching reading gains traction,” Phil describes The Vistria Group’s partnership with Really Great Reading and its real time impact on students and their learning success. Really Great Reading is a national, leading provider of scientifically aligned literacy curriculum for students in grades pre-K through high school.
“Education is how I’m sitting at the table as an investor,” Phil writes. “It is why the Knowledge & Learning Solutions team at The Vistria Group is so focused on outcomes from our investments that benefit society — not just turning a profit but turning around a life.”
Exacerbated by COVID-19, a decline in literacy rates and a gap in reading proficiency has increased the demand for the products Really Great Reading offers — solutions that are evidence-based to help teachers incorporate successful learning models into the classroom and help students become better readers. Really Great Reading serves more than 600,000 students and 40,000 teachers in all 50 states. The Vistria Group announced its partnership with Really Great Reading in December 2022.
“It is a research-based approach to teaching reading that is based in phonics — matching sounds with letters or groups of letters. The science of reading incorporates social and emotional approaches to how our brains work. It helps us decode words rather than guess,” Phil writes.
Crain’s “Forum” series also recently featured The Vistria Group’s Adnan Nisar, Partner and Co-Head of Knowledge & Learning Solutions, who discussed a nursing shortage amid higher education needs, and Kelly McCarthy, Head of Impact, who wrote about ESG and authentic measurement of impact.
Read Phil’s full op-ed here.
About The Vistria Group
The Vistria Group is building a new kind of private investment firm that seeks to deliver both financial returns and societal impact. It invests in essential industries like healthcare, knowledge and learning and financial services that deliver value for investors as well as communities, employees, and consumers. The Vistria Group works as a true partner with its portfolio companies, drawing on its deep sector knowledge, operational expertise, unique network, diverse team, and impact orientation to achieve transformational growth. With over $10 billion in AUM, The Vistria Group believes it has delivered attractive returns for its investors while achieving positive outcomes for its portfolio companies, and the lives and livelihoods it supports. For more information, please visit vistria.com
