Parenting & Family review
Reading Head Start review
A children's reading program sold as a $1 trial that turns into $37 a month, with 1-year and lifetime plans at $197 on the page, a 'discounts remaining' counter and a '2 grade level' guarantee.
Pass
The headline price of $1 is not the price. The form starts a monthly subscription of $37 after the trial, so a parent who forgets to cancel pays $444 a year, more than the $197 annual plan the page also sells. The page also does not say what the program contains, leans on a school-closure sale and a 'discounts remaining' counter that work as scarcity devices, and guarantees a two-grade improvement, which cannot be promised for any child. The 365-day refund is generous, but the form's own field says 60 days, and the seller is not named. Refund tickets go through ClickBank. We recommend passing on this offer.
- Price
- $1
- Billing
- Subscription: $1 now, then $37 per month
- Best for
- Nobody until the seller lists the lessons and names the company behind the program
- Not for
- Parents who dislike auto-renewing subscriptions, or who want to know the lessons and ages covered before signing up
Reading Head Start at a glance
Reading Head Start is an online program for parents who want to teach a child to read at home. The page offers three plans: monthly with a '$1 trial, then $37/mo after 3 day trial', a 1-year plan at $197 (crossed-out $297) and a lifetime plan at $197 (crossed-out $597), under a 'School Closure Sale' banner and a counter of '1000 Discounts & Trials Before The Price Increases'. The text does not say what the program contains: no lessons, ages, format or length are listed on the page we read, only that teachers and parents name it one of the top reading programs. The guarantee is a '365 Day Money Back' promise plus a 2 grade level boost 'guaranteed' within a year. The ClickBank form charges $1.00 today and $37.00 monthly. The terms page is generic health boilerplate about diets and allergies rather than reading, and it names no company.
- Format
- Online membership; lessons and format not described on the page
- Price
- $1.00 today, then $37.00 per month (form, US)
- Other plans
- 1 year $197 and lifetime $197 on the page, not on the form
- Trial
- 3 days per the page
- Refund window
- 60 days in the form data; 365 days in its text and on the page
- Seller
- Reading Head Start site; no company or address; refunds through ClickBank
- Merchant of record
- Click Sales, Inc. (ClickBank), Boise, Idaho, USA
- ClickBank vendor
- readinghs
$1 today, $37 every month
The form bills $1.00 now and $37.00 each month afterwards, so a forgotten trial costs $444 a year.
For pricing honesty we give 2.5.
Plans but no lessons
The page lists three plans and prices but never describes the lessons, ages or format of the program.
For offer clarity we give 4.5.
Two grade levels guaranteed
The page guarantees a 2 grade level boost and adds a 'discounts remaining' counter and a school-closure sale banner.
For claim discipline we give 3.0.
365 days, or 60?
The page and the form text promise 365 days, but the form's own refund field shows 60 days.
For refund terms we give 8.0.
No company named
The site shows a contact form and generic terms, but no company name or address.
For vendor transparency we give 3.5.
Pros and cons
What works
- 365-day money-back guarantee stated on the page
- Cancel any time per the page
- Only $1 to start
What does not
- Trial becomes $37 a month
- No description of the lessons
- Scarcity counter and school-closure banner
- Terms are generic health boilerplate
Reading Head Start FAQ
Is Reading Head Start a subscription?
The plan the form opens is: $1 today, then $37 every month until you cancel.
How much does it cost?
$1.00 today and then $37.00 per month; the page also lists 1-year and lifetime plans at $197.
What does the program teach?
The page we read does not list lessons, ages or format.
Can I get a refund?
The page and the form text promise 365 days, but the form data field says 60 days; requests go through ClickBank.
Does it guarantee my child will read better?
The page guarantees a 2 grade level boost within a year, which no program can promise for every child.
The bottom line
The headline price of $1 is not the price. The form starts a monthly subscription of $37 after the trial, so a parent who forgets to cancel pays $444 a year, more than the $197 annual plan the page also sells. The page also does not say what the program contains, leans on a school-closure sale and a 'discounts remaining' counter that work as scarcity devices, and guarantees a two-grade improvement, which cannot be promised for any child. The 365-day refund is generous, but the form's own field says 60 days, and the seller is not named. Refund tickets go through ClickBank. We recommend passing on this offer.
If you want a product in this category that we rate higher, Self-Esteem Elevation for Children (Coaching Certification) scores 7.6/10 and is rated Worth it.
Open the Reading Head Start offer Compare Parenting products