• introduction
• NY State Learning Standards Review
• overview
• english language arts
• Initiatives
• overview
• improving literacy
  • introduction
  • who we work with
  • resources
• comprehensive assessments
• learning technology
• teacher quality
• mathematics
• family engagement
• statewide system of support
• Special Projects
• alternate assessment

Improving Literacy

(formerly known as the "Adolescent Literacy" initiative)

Because of the variety and complexity of issues that affect current levels of reading proficiency among adolescents, significant improvements will be achieved only through a comprehensive effort involving changes in state- and district-level policies, improved assessments, more efficient school organization, more involved and effective leadership, and extensive professional development for all leaders and teachers …

Torgesen, et. al. (2007), Academic literacy instruction for adolescents: A guidance document from the Center on Instruction

The promise of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 is that all students will be academically successful by 2014. Literacy is one of the major academic areas in which all students will demonstrate proficiency; students must be able to read, write, think, and communicate, both critically and creatively. Recently, national attention has focused on the need to improve adolescent literacy in order to enhance secondary student outcomes across content areas. To that end, the Literacy team’s goal is to partner with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to distribute scientifically based literacy research, thereby promoting academic achievement for all students.

Objectives

To achieve these goals, we:

• Disseminate scientifically based research to key stakeholders
• Create research-based frameworks to guide policy on raising the quality of literacy instruction for students in New York
• Convene symposia to focus on research- and evidence-based promising practices in state- and district-wide initiatives to support literacy
• Provide ongoing professional development on research-based promising practices in literacy to NYSED and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) specialists.

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