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

Report: Every Grade Counts: The State of Adolescent Literacy in New York

Our report, Every Grade Counts: The State of Adolescent Literacy in New York, calls on state and district leaders to urgently address the adolescent literacy crisis that continues to deny thousands of middle and high school students their right to read. The report builds on our 2023 early literacy work and features promising practices from across the state, highlighting how schools, nonprofits, and community organizations in New York and beyond are actively working to close adolescent literacy gaps.  While the state has started to invest in aligning early grades (K–3) with the science of reading, we warn that policymakers have overlooked middle and high school students and offer recommendations for state and district leaders to take action.

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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 FY27 Executive Budget Request

by | Oct 20, 2025 |

EdTrust-New York’s 2026 policy agenda is premised on the belief that all children can succeed in school when provided with high-quality, culturally relevant instruction and support that is equity-driven, data-centered, and student-focused. To improve outcomes across the state, particularly for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, EdTrust-New York advocates for an equitable system of education that helps schools meet the following milestones.

EdTrust-New York Calls for Transparency and Truth in Response to Preliminary 2024–25 State Assessment Data Release

by | Aug 12, 2025 |

EdTrust-New York welcomes the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) release of preliminary data from the 2024-25 Grades 3-8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Grades 5 and 8 Science assessments ahead of the new school year. However, the data raises more questions than it answers. We believe transparent, accessible data is essential to informing instruction, supporting families, and driving equity-centered decision-making throughout New York’s education system. 

New York Must Act Now to Address the Adolescent Literacy Crisis

by | Jun 26, 2025 |

In its new report titled “Every Grade Counts: The State of Adolescent Literacy in New York,” EdTrust-New York builds on its 2023 early literacy work and highlights the urgent need for bold state and local action. The report urges leaders to provide older students, who were never properly taught how to read in elementary school, with resources and targeted support aligned to the science of reading.