- New York Governor Kathy Hochul aims to prioritize phonics in the state's school literacy programs to address low reading comprehension.
- The new proposal would require the state Department of Education to develop reading science-based guidelines for school districts to implement.
- In New York, like other states, reading declines have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said Wednesday she is urging schools in the state to refocus phonics in their literacy programs. This could be a major overhaul as many states revamp their curricula in response to declines in reading proficiency.
The proposal would require the state Department of Education to draft guidelines centered around the so-called Science of Reading, a phonics-based approach to literacy instruction, and districts would have until September 2025 to must be followed.
The plan must be approved by Congress to take effect.
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With this change, New York state joins a national movement away from the teaching method known as balanced literacy. This teaching method focuses on introducing children to books that interest them, often at the expense of dedicated phonics instruction that focuses on sound-letter relationships.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at Holland Broadway Elementary School on May 9, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
In New York, like other states, reading scores have declined after the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close and teach online. According to last year's data, fewer than half of her third-graders in New York State read at a proficient level on the state exam.
“Reading is the foundation of our education system, but New York State currently does not meet basic reading proficiency levels,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. “We cannot continue to allow our children to fall further behind using outdated and unreliable reading approaches.”
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New York City, home to the nation's largest school district, began phasing in a phonics-based reading curriculum to all elementary schools last year.
More than 30 other states are also moving toward scientific reading programs, according to the governor's office. This approach is credited with contributing to Mississippi's dramatic improvement in reading scores in recent years.
Hochul's plan includes $10 million to train teachers in the science of reading instruction, as well as expanding a certification program for teachers focused on the science of reading at state and city public universities. ing.
The governor announced the proposal as part of the state legislative agenda, which begins Wednesday and ends in June.
In remarks to reporters, state Republican leader Will Barclay expressed positivity about the governor's plan, but said he would wait until the bill is introduced before taking a formal position.
