The New York Campaign for Early Literacy

 

All children can learn to read with instruction aligned to the science of reading, yet many students are denied the right to read — especially Black, Latinx, and Native American students and those from low-income backgrounds.

The New York Campaign for Early Literacy is a statewide movement designed to harness the collective voices of individuals and civil rights, education, parent, and nonprofit organizations to improve student reading outcomes through evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading. The Campaign is devised on the principle that reading is a civil and human right.

Our Equity-Centered Approach

The New York Campaign for Early Literacy seeks policy changes at the state and local levels that promote the use of instruction aligned with the science of reading. To improve reading outcomes and literacy skills in New York State, the Campaign advocates for:

  • District-level adoption of instructional materials aligned to the science of reading.
  • Professional learning so that all educators in kindergarten through eighth grade are trained in the science of reading.
  • Awareness of the importance of emerging literacy for children ages 0-5 and the role it plays in ensuring students enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.   
  • District and state-level awareness and policies to support older students who are struggling with reading.  
  • Expansion of high-impact tutoring programs to address pandemic-related unfinished learning and support student reading skills.
  • Public transparency and accountability to let families and other stakeholders know what curriculum districts are using to teach reading.

Check out news featuring the New York Campaign for Early Literacy here.

Latest Resource

Webinar: New York Campaign for Early Literacy Virtual Advocacy Day 2025

On February 25, 2025, the New York Campaign for Early Literacy hosted a virtual advocacy day to advocate for new state investments in literacy in the 2026 budget.

Parents, district leaders, and advocates came together to discuss the importance of implementing the science of reading in the classroom and the need for new investments in professional learning, curriculum, and teacher preparation.

Featured Reports and Resources Over the Years

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Blog: New York Campaign for Early Literacy Members Speak on the Importance of Early Literacy

Several Campaign members and state leaders joined us at the New York State Capitol calling out the need for urgent action while acknowledging progress across the state, such as Governor Hochul’s recent ‘Back to Basics’ proposal.

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Report: The Role of Expanded Learning Programs in Improving Early Literacy Outcomes

This report also highlights several unique afterschool, summer, and other expanded learning programs, as well as youth-focused organizations across New York State that engage with children to improve literacy in creative ways.

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Report: 2022-23 Western New York Reading Report Card

The report uses English Language Arts (ELA) assessment data from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to: Evaluate and rank school districts; analyze differences in achievement across student groups; and provide a snapshot of early literacy in Western New York.
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The New York Campaign for Early Literacy in the News

Check out the latest news about the New York Campaign for Early Literacy featuring campaign members, parents, and nonprofit leaders.

Data Snapshot

organizations and advocates engaged in the New York Campaign for Early Literacy.

secured for initial state investments for professional development for teachers.

More Resources

New York Must Act Now to Address the Adolescent Literacy Crisis

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.

EdTrust-New York and New York Campaign for Early Literacy Applaud Passage of Bill to Create Dyslexia & Dysgraphia Center, Advancing Equitable Literacy Support for All Students

Research shows that schools diagnose Black students with Dyslexia at only half the rate of White students, denying them equal access to necessary services. We are eager to collaborate with Assemblymember Carroll, Senator Fahey, and NYSED to deliver the evidence-based literacy support all New York students and educators deserve.

Parent Voices: Two Districts, Two Different Approaches to Literacy Instruction

Literacy stakeholders, including parents and caregivers, are deeply impacted by the choices school districts make regarding curriculum and professional learning. One of the goals of the New York Campaign for Early Literacy is to emphasize the essential role parents and caregivers play in early literacy and to demonstrate how schools can empower families to support their children’s reading development.

New York Campaign for Early Literacy Celebrates Progress and Demands Stronger State Action to Address Literacy Crisis

While last year’s progress marked a starting point, New York must follow the example of other states that have made comprehensive, multi-year investments in the science of reading, beginning with the inclusion of $26 million this year to support the Campaign’s priorities in professional learning, curriculum, and teacher preparation.