New York
State Information
The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.
Updated 2025
Local control?
Yes
Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?
New York State Education Law §818 requires an annual review of school district curriculum and instructional practices in the subject of reading for students in prekindergarten through grade three. This law states that all New York State public school districts and BOCES must ensure that their curriculum and instruction are aligned with the literacy instructional best practices provided by the Commissioner and are required to complete the attestation.
Does your state have an approved curriculum list?
No, New York State is a local control state for curriculum decisions.
Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?
NYS is a local control state for curriculum decisions; however, the Office of Standards and Instruction developed the K-3 Literacy Curriculum Review Guide to support districts in selecting high-quality curricular materials for grades K-3.
The Office of Early Learning has released the Prekindergarten-3rd Grade Literacy Instructional Best Practices guide and the Prekindergarten-3rd Grade Writing Instructional Best Practices guide for districts to use when reviewing curriculum and instruction for alignment to the Science of Reading.
Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
The Office of Standards and Instruction in collaboration with the Office of Early Learning released a series of Science of Reading Literacy Briefs produced by Dr. Nonie K. Lesaux and Katie C. Carr, M.Ed. to provide guidance around reading/literacy.
NYSED will be developing additional literacy briefs addressing the needs of ELLs/MLs and students with disabilities.
Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?
In NY, school districts are required to develop their own plan to screen every new entrant to the schools to determine which students are possibly gifted, have, or are suspected of having a disability in accordance with subdivision (6) of section 3208 of the Education Law and/or possibly are limited English proficient in accordance with subdivision 2-a of section 3204 of the Education Law.
Commissioner Regulation 151 requires all prekindergarten students to be screened and assessed using valid and reliable tools.
Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
The NYS Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force has released a report which includes a recommendation for universal screening of all students in grades K-5 and new entrants at least annually for reading and writing difficulties that may or may not be related to dyslexia or dysgraphia.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?
The Department has developed the MTSS-I Pilot Framework, which is available with associated resources. These materials include a training in the understanding of the science of reading, which is available here.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development
Instruction is a local decision; however, the Office of Standards and Instruction provides guidance around curriculum and instruction.
Teachers holding some certifications are required to complete Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours.
Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?
The New York State Education Department is working on a P-20 Literacy Plan in collaboration with our partners in the field that will include guidance to schools around the science of reading.
The NYS Back to Basics plan includes the implementation of the literacy best practices as well as $10 million for teacher training in the Science of Reading. It also allows for SUNY and CUNY Microcredentials.
Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable
N/A at this time.
Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?
In 2016-17, New York State completed a comprehensive review of the English Language Arts Standards, which include reading expectations. The review included surveys for public comment, a review committee of over 50 P-20 educators, and a review by several reading and English Language Arts researchers to ensure the expectations in the standards reflect the research around the science of reading.
In July 2025, the Board of Regents adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate which describes the essential skills and dispositions that all students should develop to be successful in college, careers, and civic life.
In response to the portrait of a Graduate work, the department will be performing a full standards review in the near future.
Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading? If so, please link and provide a short description.
The Office of Standards and Instruction has created several guidance documents for the public around the English Language Arts Standards, including a parent page for resources and a parent brochure.
Additional Family resources can be found on the OEL website at https://www.nysed.gov/early-learning/resources-families.
Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?
The Office of Standards and Instruction is in the process of publishing a companion guide.
Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners? If so, please link and provide a short description.
To best support Multilingual Learners, the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages has published several resources, including Classroom Practices for Multilingual Learners and English Language Learners and The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards. The goal of the sample units is to describe and update pedagogies that can be useful to teachers of Multilingual Learners with high-leverage practices for language learning, with a focus on how the home language is used to facilitate and leverage the learning process.
The Department has also published the following resources:
- Emergent Multilingual Learners in Prekindergarten Programs
- Academic and Linguistic Demands: Creating Access to the Next Generation Learning Standards in English Language Arts for Linguistically Diverse Learners (ALDs)
Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?
New York’s teacher preparation programs meet rigorous program and accreditation standards and are designed to ensure that every student in our State has access to a high-quality education. Teacher candidates in programs leading to certification in the elementary grades complete coursework that prepares them for teaching to the State English language arts learning standards, including courses in language acquisition and literacy development.
Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?
Contact NYSED
Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading
The New York State Learning Standards, which include the Reading Foundational Standards, are available here.
Interactive State Map
Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.
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The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.