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“Breaking News: Gov. Kathy Hochul Introduces Proposals to Transform Reading Instruction in New York!”

Gov. Kathy Hochul Proposes Major Shift in Reading Instruction
The New York government is taking action to fix the state’s growing literacy problem. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a major shift in education policy to transform the way many schools teach reading across the state. This change has been suggested by experts, as fewer than half of New York’s third graders are currently proficient in reading.

Procedure for Schools to Use “Scientifically Proven” Approach
The proposed shift in education policy would require school districts to certify that their curriculums are utilizing scientifically proven approaches to literacy by September 2025. Gov. Hochul believes this will be a major change, as before everyone knew that what was being done was not working, but it had not been addressed. This proposal requires the support of the State Legislature, which has been controlled by Democrats.

The Effect of Pandemic on Reading Scores
According to a national assessment, New York’s fourth-grade reading scores fell significantly during the pandemic and are behind where they were a decade ago. This is largely because many teachers across the state had been trained in a method called balanced literacy, which encourages independent reading but does not provide foundational skills such as phonics.

Consequences of Not Becoming Proficient in Reading
Students who do not become proficient readers by the end of the third grade are four times as likely to drop out of school, according to Gov. Hochul’s office. This is particularly concerning for children of color and those from lower income backgrounds, as they are more likely to live in households with limited resources for supplementary education. Lack of reading proficiency can also lead to lower lifetime earnings and worse health outcomes.

Gov. Hochul’s Plan to Improve Literacy
In conjunction with her shift in education policy, Gov. Hochul proposed spending $10 million to train teachers in scientifically proven reading instruction techniques. Furthermore, she is proposing other measures to assist New York’s students, including banning co-payments for insulin and raising the cap on disability payments for sick or injured people.

It is clear that Gov. Kathy Hochul is invested in improving literacy among New York’s students, and her new proposals are an ambitious step in the right direction. If her plan is approved by the legislature, the shift in reading instruction across the state could be a game changer for millions of children.