The Empire Equity Countdown
The Empire Equity Countdown tracks key policies and investments EdTrust-New York advocates for each year — all of which are rooted in 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.
With each new chapter in New York’s policy landscape comes opportunities to improve outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds — from Albany to New York City, up to Buffalo, and in communities across the state. Our research drives advocacy efforts to hold policymakers publicly responsible for outcomes of New York’s education systems.
While the countdown to equity won’t end until every student has equitable opportunities, we’re making every New York minute count to advance educational equity.
Making Every New York Minute Count
Tracking EdTrust-New York’s policy wins and active priorities throughout each legislative season.
12 Priorities Advanced
2026 Policy Agenda
Time is Ticking for Equity: Key Investments and Legislative Actions in 2026
Literacy
New York invests more per pupil than any other state, yet students are not receiving the high-quality literacy instruction they deserve.
We envision a statewide, evidence-based literacy system that ensures all students receive high-quality literacy instruction and regular reading screenings, equips educators with robust professional learning opportunities, and provides families with clear, accessible information about their children’s literacy progress and instruction.
Learn more +
According to the 2024 NAEP results, New York ranks 26th in 4th-grade reading and 28th in 8th-grade reading nationwide. States that spend far less, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, outperform New York across student groups because they have implemented comprehensive, evidence-based literacy systems grounded in aligned curricula, strong leadership, statewide coaching, universal screening, and data-driven interventions.
Learn more +
According to the 2024 NAEP results, New York ranks 26th in 4th-grade reading and 28th in 8th-grade reading nationwide. States that spend far less, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, outperform New York across student groups because they have implemented comprehensive, evidence-based literacy systems grounded in aligned curricula, strong leadership, statewide coaching, universal screening, and data-driven interventions.
Budget and Legislative Opportunities
$30 Million Investment
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$30 Million Investment
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Our 2026 Policy and Legislative Agenda
Literacy
New York invests more per pupil than any other state, yet students are not receiving the high-quality literacy instruction they deserve.
We envision a statewide, evidence-based literacy system that ensures all students receive high-quality literacy instruction and regular reading screenings, equips educators with robust professional learning opportunities, and provides families with clear, accessible information about their children’s literacy progress and instruction.
Learn more +
Why Literacy Now
According to the 2024 NAEP results, New York ranks 26th in 4th-grade reading and 28th in 8th-grade reading nationwide. States that spend far less, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, outperform New York across student groups because they have implemented comprehensive, evidence-based literacy systems grounded in aligned curricula, strong leadership, statewide coaching, universal screening, and data-driven interventions.
Budget and Legislative Opportunities
To further address literacy outcomes, we are proposing a series of budget and related requests that would help New York catch up with the rest of the nation.
Budget and Legislative Opportunities
$30 Million Investment — Training & Support for Educators
New York passed the Back to Basics Act in 2024, which requires districts to adopt evidence-based literacy curricula. To support this effort, we propose a $30 million investment for training and support for educators to successfully implement the science of reading in the classroom.
- Hire literacy coaches
- Science of reading microcredentials
- Curriculum-aligned professional learning
$12.25 Million Investment — Universal Screening & Data Transparency
New York lacks statewide K–2 literacy data, universal screening requirements, and transparency around district instructional practices. Families and educators cannot intervene early without accurate information.
We propose a $12.25 million investment to support statewide universal K–3 screening three times a year, home literacy reports, educator training to use screening data, and district public plans for foundational literacy instruction (K–5).
Final Status
When there is a final status, we’ll update it here.
2026 POLICY AGENDA
Time is Ticking for Equity: Key Investments and Legislative Actions in 2026
Our 2026 Policy and Legislative Agenda
Literacy
New York invests more per pupil than any other state, yet students are not receiving the high-quality literacy instruction they deserve.
We envision a statewide, evidence-based literacy system that ensures all students receive high-quality literacy instruction and regular reading screenings, equips educators with robust professional learning opportunities, and provides families with clear, accessible information about their children’s literacy progress and instruction.
Why Literacy Matters (Learn more)
According to the 2024 NAEP results, New York ranks 26th in 4th-grade reading and 28th in 8th-grade reading nationwide. States that spend far less, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, outperform New York across student groups because they have implemented comprehensive, evidence-based literacy systems grounded in aligned curricula, strong leadership, statewide coaching, universal screening, and data-driven interventions.
$30 million investment — Training & support for educators | Proposed
New York passed the Back to Basics Act in 2024, which requires districts to adopt evidence-based literacy curricula. To support this effort, we propose a $30 million investment for training and support for educators to successfully implement the science of reading in the classroom. This investment would enable schools to hire literacy coaches, purchase science of reading microcredential for educators, and have a flexible fund for curriculum-aligned professional learning throughout the year.
$12.25 million investment — Universal screening, family engagement & transparency | In Negotiation
New York lacks statewide K-2 literacy data, universal screening requirements, and transparency around district instructional practices. Families and educators cannot intervene early without accurate information.
To address these gaps, we propose a $12.25 million investment that would enable the state to require a statewide universal K-3 reading screening three times a year for all students and home literacy reports for students that the screening identifies need more support; training to provide professional learning for educators on how to use screening data; and districts to develop and maintain a publicly accessible plan outlining foundational literacy instruction for grades K-5.
Math
New York is facing a severe and persistent numeracy crisis that threatens students’ academic trajectories and the state’s long-term workforce readiness.
The state must adopt a statewide strategy that strengthens core instruction, accelerates learning for students who are behind, and prioritizes districts and schools with the lowest math proficiency. Investments must be structured, targeted, and accountable to ensure they reach students who have historically been underserved.
Why Math Matters (Learn more)
Between 2019 and 2022, fourth-grade math scores in New York declined by 10 points on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the steepest drop in two decades and twice the national average.
The crisis is most acute for historically marginalized students. Fewer than one-third of Black and Latinx students are proficient in eighth-grade math, and outcomes for students with disabilities and multilingual learners are even more alarming, with only 16% meeting proficiency.
$5 million investment — High-impact tutoring in grades 6–9 | Proposed
High-impact tutoring (HIT) provides small-group or one-to-one instruction (1:1–1:3 ratio) at least three times per week, during the school day, with trained, consistent tutors using curriculum-aligned materials. An investment of $5 million would support implementation in up to 25 high-need districts across the state.
$20 million investment — Math Coaching Act | Proposed
Instructional coaching is one of the most effective ways to strengthen teaching and raise student achievement, especially when it is ongoing and tied to high-quality instructional materials. We propose a $20 million investment to establish math coaching programs in high-need elementary schools to support students early.
Current Status
Update each checkpoint as the legislative cycle progresses.
State of the State
Executive Budget
One-House Budgets
Final Budget
End of Session
Final Status
When there is a final status, update it here with a short summary of outcomes and what changed.