Literacy

Reading proficiently by the end of third grade is the most important indicator of future student success.

Yet New York State is facing a literacy crisis — despite research showing that children can learn to read with instruction aligned with the science of reading, many New York students do not have access to such instruction.

In turn, students across New York State, especially Black, Latinx, and Native American students and students from low-income backgrounds, are denied the right to read.

Our Equity-Centered Approach

We convene the New York Campaign for Early Literacy to ensure the use of instruction aligned with the science of reading is prioritized at the state and district levels. The Campaign is a statewide movement designed to harness the collective voices of individuals and civil rights, education, parent, and nonprofit organizations and advocate for improved student reading outcomes.

Latest Resource

Brief: Back to Basics Curriculum Analysis: Progress, but Concerns Remain

This brief analyzes district curriculum data obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request to the New York State Education Department and examines whether districts statewide are aligning their literacy curriculum with evidence-based reading practices, as required by the state’s 2024 Back to Basics law.  

These findings demonstrate both the power of state leadership and the need for stronger implementation. While the Back to Basics law pushed many districts to act, limited accountability and support have allowed inconsistent adoption to persist. 

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Featured Reports and Resources Over the Years

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Report: The State of Early Literacy in Monroe County

This report shows that districts responding to Monroe County’s early literacy crisis with a slow, but uneven shift toward alignment with the science of reading, an evidence-based approach to teaching reading. The report also shares examples of promising practices from school districts, local universities, and community-based organizations. 
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Statement: NYSED and the Board of Regents' Vision for Literacy

We are hopeful that new state guidance and resources regarding literacy instruction are helpful to districts. However, we worry that with no obligation for districts to follow this guidance, reading outcomes will not improve, particularly in historically underserved communities – rural and urban.

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Resource: Four Ways Parents & Caregivers Can Support Their Young Reader

When parents and caregivers know how to support their child’s reading, there is enormous potential. Yet too often, parents do not have access to the best tools and resources to support reading development, leaving them feeling unprepared to support their little learner’s needs. This resource outlines four ways that parents and caregivers can support their young reader.
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Statement: Gov. Hochul's Literacy Proposal

The Governor’s proposal will help to ensure that districts across the state are providing evidence-based literacy instruction to all students, while also helping provide educators with the training and resources to implement these changes in the classroom. While this proposal is a major step forward, much work remains to be done.

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Data Snapshot

In the 2024 NAEP test results,

%

of 4th graders scored Below Basic in reading, including 55% of Black students and 51% of Latinx students

*The Nation’s Report Card

In 2024,

%

of Black and Latinx students in grades 3-8 in NYS tested proficient on the statewide ELA assessments, as compared to 46% of all students.

*New York State Education Department

More Resources

EdTrust-New York Welcomes Key Education Investments in Final Budget, Calls for Further Action on Equity Gaps  

by | May 29, 2026 |

EdTrust-New York welcomes the final state budget’s support for several of our educational equity priorities. The budget commits $4.5 billion to universal child care and pre-K, allocates $30 million for K-12 priorities, including math and literacy instruction, high-impact tutoring, and College in High School programming, and provides $1 million for Emergency Aid at SUNY and CUNY.  We also appreciate the new safeguards included in the budget to protect immigrant students’ access to education at a time when students and families need additional support and clear reminders that all children belong in school. Finally, we support the changes to the Foundation Aid formula, which direct more funding to students who face the greatest barriers to opportunity, including those experiencing homelessness, those in foster care, and English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners 

Testimony for New York City Council Committee on Education Fiscal Year 27 Preliminary Budget – Education

by | Apr 2, 2026 |

As the largest district in the state and nation, serving nearly 1 million students, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is a key focus of EdTrust-New York’s commitment to advancing equity-focused educational efforts across the state. Such investments are even more critical this year due to federal funding cuts and attacks on critical educational equity programs. The following are our top priorities for the FY27 budget.