New York schools are slow to adopt updated phonics-based curriculum, a state lawmaker claims

ALBANY — The state Department of Education isn’t doing enough to adopt a more modern literacy curriculum, a Brooklyn lawmaker is mandating at a time when states like Mississippi are outpacing New York in critical reading scores.

Assemblyman Bobby Carroll (D-Brooklyn) is calling on Education Department officials to mandate schools statewide Adopting a phonics-based literacy curriculumknown as the Science of Reading Curriculum — after a recent study found that hundreds of Empire State districts are using an outdated and ineffective curriculum model.

“In addition to Mississippi, states like Connecticut and Virginia have already acted on this common-sense approach,” Carroll said in a statement. “New York must be at the forefront, not left behind.”

“Every child in New York deserves to learn to read, and it is time for the State Department of Education to deliver on that promise.”

Find out an analysis by Education Trust-New York, a policy and advocacy organization Nearly a third of school districts They still teach an outdated curriculum using the “balanced” approach to teaching reading and writing.

New York’s fourth-grade reading scores on the national NAEP test have stagnated in recent years, even falling below the national average in 2022.

Meanwhile, states like Mississippi saw a shocking jump in the rankings, going from 46th in 2017 to 7th in 2024.

New York ranked No. 26 in 2024, even though its per-pupil costs of about $36,000 were 91% higher than the national average, according to a recent study. Report from the Citizens Budget Committee.

However, New York State’s burgeoning education bureaucracy has taken steps to begin training more teachers and other progressive approaches to adopting reading-aligned pedagogy, including the Path Forward Initiative.

“While comparisons to other states may be politically convenient, they ignore the significant evidence-based efforts already underway to strengthen literacy instruction throughout New York,” a state Department of Education spokesperson told The Washington Post. “New York’s classrooms are diverse, and effective literacy instruction must respond to students’ diverse needs.

“A one-size-fits-all mandate is not the answer.”

The ministry’s position is that local school districts pick and choose their own curricula without mandates, the spokesperson said.

“The Board of Regents and the Department of Education set stringent educational standards, while local school boards and school districts choose the curriculum, teaching methods, and materials that best meet the needs of their students. New York State does not mandate, review, approve, or endorse specific programs or vendors,” the spokesperson added.

Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul Make a big push To encourage schools to adopt reading science curricula, including a $10 million grant to the state teachers union.

New York City schools have already been at the forefront, implementing NYC Reads, a push for phonics-based literacy instruction.