Implementing High-Quality Instructional Materials through NYC Reads

The Problem

New York City Public Schools serve 1.1 million students, yet the city has long struggled with low literacy rates and persistent inequities across districts and student populations. The pandemic deepened these challenges, causing literacy rates to drop sharply and widening existing gaps.

The Solution

NYC Reads is one of the largest literacy initiatives in the nation, uniting core curriculum, instructional guidance, and academic intervention under a coherent vision grounded in high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and evidence-based research. This multi-year effort is designed to ensure all NYCPS students become strong readers.

In SY24–25, I joined the mission as a job-embedded coach, supporting the implementation of two approved curricula — Fundations and Wit & Wisdom — in three schools in Queens and Brooklyn. These schools have historically posted literacy rates below the city average and have struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels. As a subcontractor through Relay GSE and Generation Ready, I partnered directly with school leaders and teachers to guide Phase 1 of curriculum implementation.

The Impact

Citywide, literacy rates rose by about 7%, measured by the percentage of students in grades 3–8 who scored proficient or advanced on the New York State ELA assessment. In the three schools I supported, growth ranged from 11 to 18 percentage points, with all surpassing their pre-pandemic performance.

Notably, third grade scores—an important predictor of future literacy success—showed dramatic gains, with increases of 21.8% to 37.7%. At one school in Canarsie, Brooklyn, third grade literacy reached 75%, far exceeding the city average of 58%. All three schools set new benchmarks for reading achievement after just one year of curriculum implementation.

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