New York State Path Forward Team Releases Action Plan to Transform Literacy Instruction

New York, NY: Literacy Academy Collective (LAC) and State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today the release of the New York State Action Plan: The Path Forward (the Action Plan), which seeks to transform the way educators are prepared to teach literacy.

In Fall 2023, New York State was chosen to participate in the third cohort of the Hunt Institute’s The Path Forward initiative. The goal of the initiative is to improve literacy instruction in schools by supporting and integrating the science of reading into teacher preparation program curricula and certification requirements.

New York’s Action Plan focuses on teacher preparation programs in early childhood education, childhood education, English to speakers of other languages, literacy, and students with disabilities. Specifically, the Action Plan outlines initiatives in six areas:

1. Align Program Requirements with Culturally Responsive, Evidence-based Practices that are Grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR). Ensure that educator preparation programs (EPPs) integrate SoR into their courses of study and into the measures of teacher candidate readiness (e.g., program requirements, certification exams, teacher performance assessment).
2. Review Programs: Develop a system for understanding how EPP courses of study are aligned with culturally responsive, evidence-based practices for teaching literacy grounded in SoR on an ongoing basis in order to refine and improve the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED’s) program review process.
3. Secure Funding: Generate public and philanthropic support to adequately fund the innovation and change management work in EPPs and partnerships between EPPs and school districts.
4. Engage EPP Leadership and Faculty: Engage EPP leadership and faculty in the integration of culturally responsive, evidence-based practices for teaching literacy that are grounded in SoR into teacher preparation programs.
5. Promote P-20 Partnerships: Support and incentivize strong partnerships between EPPs and school districts/Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
6. Study the Activities in the Action Plan and Establish an Information Sharing System. Engage third-party research organization(s) to study the activities outlined in the Action Plan and establish an information sharing system to gather, codify, and disseminate effective practices in culturally responsive, evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in SoR.

The Action Plan is the result of a coordinated effort by key institutional and educational leaders and a diverse set of stakeholders from across the state. Throughout the past year, with support from NYSED and the Hunt Institute, LAC has been regularly convening the NYS Path Forward Leadership Committee, Steering Committee, and three working groups. This NYS Path Forward team brought together leaders from NYSED; the New York State Legislature; the Governor’s office; leaders, deans, and faculty from higher education educator preparation programs; school district leaders and teachers; and community advocates, funders, and stakeholders with wide-ranging perspectives and backgrounds.

The first draft of the Action Plan was completed in Spring 2024 and presented to the Board of Regents in June 2024. Following a round of feedback from The Path Forward National Advisors and other state teams that attended the Hunt Institute’s convening of the third cohort in July 2024, the Action Plan is now ready for implementation.

Over the next two years, The Path Forward Steering Committee will continue to meet to support the completion of the Action Plan’s initiatives together with the following Leadership Committee members: Commissioner Rosa; New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr.; Deputy Secretary of Education, Office of the Governor, Maria Fernandez; The State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John B. King, Jr.; The City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez; Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) President Lola Brabham; and the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor.

New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “Literacy is a foundational skill for all 21st-century learners. It’s fundamental to everything we do. The ability to read proficiently impacts a student’s entire educational experience, and it can radically impact the ability of an adult to reach their fullest potential. The first step is to ensure that all curriculum and instruction is rooted in the science of reading, and that’s reflected in the Action Plan we’re announcing today.”

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New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Schools across the state are experiencing unprecedented challenges teaching literacy to their students – challenges that are exacerbated by the pandemic and the recent arrival of students with little or no ability to read, write, or speak English. Fortunately, we’re much more fluent in the science of reading and the vital importance of integrating culturally responsive, evidence-based practices within literacy instruction. The Action Plan we’re announcing today will help prepare New York’s teachers to reach all of the students in their care.”      

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Ruth Genn, Executive Director of Literacy Academy Collective, “We’ve seen first-hand at South Bronx Literacy Academy the transformation that occurs in children when teachers are well prepared to reach them using structured literacy. All students deserve to experience academic success and we are so excited to have education leadership from across the state and at so many levels come to the table to make sure this becomes a reality through this Action Plan.”

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“As the state’s largest teacher preparation provider, SUNY is proud of our commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the science of reading,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “From the online Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential launched by SUNY New Paltz to the work of SUNY faculty every day across our campuses, SUNY is working hard to prepare future educators to provide the highest-quality literacy instruction to generations of students. We are grateful for the partnership led by Governor Hochul, the New York State Education Department and the Literacy Academy Collective, and will do our part to help make the NYS Path Forward Action Plan a reality.”

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“As a university system that prepares nearly a quarter of New York State’s new classroom teachers every year, CUNY is proud of the Path Forward partnership and the action plan it has developed for transforming early literacy in our state,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Over the past year, we have invested in initiatives such as the CUNY Reading Corps, which has already trained thousands of teacher candidates in Science of Reading approaches through paid internships in NYC public schools. With public and private support, we look forward to building on our commitment to elevating reading skills and advancing educational equity in our city and state.”

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CICU President Lola W. Brabham said, "The Colleges and Universities of New York's independent, non-profit sector graduate more than half of the State's educators. Collectively, CICU institutions host more than 1,200 unique, registered teacher preparation programs, each with the goal of readying teachers for success in their respective fields. The Independent Sector is proud to support the Path Forward initiative, and along with our colleagues at SUNY and CUNY, is committed to ensuring that New York State's educator preparation programs align with culturally responsive, evidence-based practices for teaching literacy."

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“For too long, New York State has left its students behind in reading by using ineffective teaching methods. Righting a big ship takes time, focus and teamwork. This new, historic State Action Plan lays out how we will train teachers in evidence-based methods aligned with how the brain processes language," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. “As we work towards accomplishing our goals, I want to thank my fellow steering committee members and the senior education leaders for their deep collaboration and engagement during this robust process.  Never before have all of New York's educational stakeholders planned such a move together. Implementing this plan will transform students' lives." 

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Dan Weisberg, First Deputy Chancellor NYCPS said, “It is critically important that new teachers are prepared well to teach reading to our students, that they understand the principles of the science of reading and how to teach curricula grounded in those same principles. I hope the work of The Path Forward results in higher education programs making the necessary shifts thoughtfully and quickly.”

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Dr. Katie Pace Miles, Professor, Brooklyn College, CUNY said, “There is so much good work to be done to make sure all students in New York State receive the evidence-based literacy instruction they need and deserve to become proficient readers. It has been hard work this past year, but well worth the effort! I am proud of our Action Plan and thrilled to be a part of this next phase which will help ensure our teachers receive the knowledge and training they need to reach every child in their classrooms.".

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Dr. John Strong, Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, SUNY said, “I believe the steps in The Path Forward Action plan will support our goal of ensuring that all teachers prepared in New York State have the knowledge and skills needed to implement evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading in early childhood and elementary school classrooms. I look forward to institutes of higher education and P-12 schools working together to improve reading proficiency across the state.”

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 “In New York State 42% of our students read at ‘below basic’ levels— including over 50% of our Black and Hispanic students. This is a crime against kids!” Dr. Mayme Hostetter, President Relay Graduate School said, “The Path Forward is a crucial part of righting this long-standing wrong. Relay is proud to be part of this effort, helping to ensure that ALL teachers are prepared to teach ALL kids how to read well. Let’s go!

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Former NYCPS Chancellor, Dr. Meisha Porter said, “It is time to finally bring equity to our system, making sure there are highly skilled teachers in every classroom. Our NY State Action Plan has the power to deeply affect the way we reach students, especially those who struggle to read. Spurring partnerships between Higher Ed and the P-20 system is a key to lasting change. In the end, this is about students and families and I believe the work we have done together this year will have a huge impact. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead!”

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The Path Forward is made possible through support from The Barksdale Reading Institute, The Belk Foundation, and The Oak Foundation.
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About The Hunt Institute:
The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, the Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit hunt-institute.org.

• Over the course of a year, state teams come together to set goals and share best practices regarding ways to ensure that teacher preparation, licensure, and program approval are aligned to the science of reading.
• Each state is supported in these efforts through intensive coaching, participation in virtual convenings, and attendance at an in-person convening. At the end of the program, teams will have a customized action plan for further embedding the science of reading into their state’s plans.
• State teams are made up of individuals from the state working to improve literacy for its students. It is critical that each team prioritize members who have a deep understanding of the science of reading, understand policy levers to bring change in teacher preparation, licensure, and program approval, and are strong voices in the state’s teacher preparation programs.       

About Literacy Academy Collective:

At Literary Academy Collective (LAC), a non-profit school support organization, we believe access to literacy is the most pressing Civil Rights issue in New York City. Our mission is to build and support a network of NYCPS schools to allow struggling readers to achieve academic success by bringing culturally relevant, structured literacy to students at the intersection of race, poverty, and disability. Our first school, South Bronx Literacy Academy PS642 opened this fall to 72 families in the South Bronx as the first district public school in the country specifically designed to serve students who struggle to read.

We have partnered with schools, families, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education to build a replicable school model, engage in district support and training for teachers, and educate families in literacy awareness and advocacy.

LAC’s goal is to break the cycle of illiteracy for students with dyslexia, language-based learning disabilities (LBLDs), and other struggling readers.

For more information, please visit literacyacademycollective.org

About the New York State Education Department:

The New York State Education Department is part of the University of the State of New York (USNY), one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States.

Our mission is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all the people in New York. Our vision is to provide leadership for a system that yields the best educated people in the world.

For More Information:

Emily Hellstrom
Literacy Academy Collective (cell) 917-386-7479 ehellstrom@literacyacademycollective.org

J.P. O’Hare
NYSED (518) 474-1201 press@nysed.gov