This fall, changes are coming to New York City classrooms. Education department officials say they will require all elementary schools to adopt a phonics-based reading program — a potentially seismic shift in how tens of thousands of public school students are taught to read.
Before the coronavirus hit, less than half of the city’s students in grades 3-8 were considered proficient readers, according to state tests. The pandemic has only multiplied concerns that students have been knocked off track.
The shift to recommended phonics-based curricula for kindergarten through second grade is part of a $7.4 million plan from Mayor Eric Adams to address literacy. Adams also has announced new efforts to identify and support students with dyslexia or other reading challenges, including screening students from kindergarten through high school and creating targeted programs at 160 of the city’s 1,600 schools.
What should parents, students, and educators know about the changes to reading instruction that officials are promising this fall? What do experts recommend when it comes to teaching young learners how to read? How can parents know if their children are getting solid reading instruction, and how can they advocate if they’re not?
Join Chalkbeat New York as we tackle these questions and more in a live virtual panel discussion on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 4:30-5:30 p.m. EDT. This event is free to attend, but register to save your virtual seat and to let us know your questions. Panelists will be announced closer to the event. Thanks to our event partner, THE CITY.
And special thanks to our exclusive sponsor for this event, Lexia Learning.
Chalkbeat New York is a nonprofit news organization covering one of the city’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to a quality education.
Caroline Bauman connects Chalkbeat journalists with our readers as the community engagement manager and previously reported at Chalkbeat Tennessee. Connect with Caroline at cbauman@chalkbeat.org.
