Empire State schools slow to adopt updated phonics-based curriculum, lawmaker alleges: ‘New York should be leading’

ALBANY – The state Education Department isn’t doing enough to embrace a more modern literacy curriculum, a Brooklyn lawmaker is charging as states like Mississippi soar past New York in critical reading scores.

Assemblyman Bobby Carrol (D-Brooklyn) is demanding Education Department administrators mandate schools statewide adopt a phonics-based literacy curriculum, known as the science of reading approach — after a recent study found hundreds of Empire State districts are using an outdated and ineffective curriculum model.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 commonsense approach. New York should be leading, not falling behind,” Carrol said in a statement.

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

An analysis by the Education Trust-New York, a policy and advocacy organization, discovered roughly a third of school districts are still teaching an outdated curriculum using the “balanced” approach to literacy education.

New York students have struggled to improve reading scores over the last few years, even as state spending on public education continues to balloon. Minet – stock.adobe.com

New York’s grade 4 reading scores on national NAEP testing have stagnated in recent years, even dipping below the national average in 2022.

States like Mississippi, meanwhile, have seen a shocking jump in the rankings – going from 46th in 2017 to No. 7 in 2024.

New York ranked No. 26 in 2024, even though its per pupil costs of around $36,000 were 91% higher than the national average, according to a report from the Citizens Budget Commission.

New York’s burgeoning state education bureaucracy has, however, taken steps to begin training more teachers and other piecemeal approaches to adopt the science of reading-aligned instruction, including its “Path Forward Initiative.”

Brooklyn Assemblyman Bobby Carrol wants the state to mandate schools adopt a “science of reading” based approach to literacy education. X/@Bobby4Brooklyn

“While comparisons to other states may be politically convenient, they disregard the significant, evidence-driven efforts already underway to strengthen literacy instruction throughout New York,” a spokesperson for the state education department told The Post. “New York’s classrooms are diverse, and effective literacy instruction must be responsive to students’ varying needs.

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

It’s the department’s position that local school districts pick and choose their own curriculum without mandates, the spokesperson argued.

“The Board of Regents and the [Education] Department establish rigorous learning standards, while local school boards and districts select curricula, instructional methods, and materials that best meet their students’ needs. NYSED does not mandate, review, or approve local curriculum or endorse specific programs or vendors,” the spokesperson added.

Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul made a big push to encourage schools to adopt science of reading curriculums, including a $10 million handout to the state teachers union.

And New York City schools are already ahead of the curve, implementing the NYC Reads program, a push for phonics-based literacy education.