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New York is trailing behind on the most fundamental skill of all: the ability to read. 

Children reach long-term success when they read proficiently by the end of third grade. Yet New York ranks only 23rd in fourth-grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress despite spending more than $33,000 per student, the highest in the nation.

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Across the country, many states have launched comprehensive multi-year literacy reforms grounded in the “science of reading.” They required evidence-based curriculum, strengthened teacher preparation programs, required in-service teachers to be trained on science of reading, provided ongoing professional learning and implemented universal screening to support students' reading development. These states prioritized reading and saw real gains over time. Mississippi, for example, rose from 49th in fourth-grade reading in 2013 to ninth in 2024. 

New York has only recently started prioritizing literacy, and as a result student reading outcomes have........

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