NYC Reads Delivers Record Literacy Gains

When NYC Reads began in 2023, the goal was clear, but ambitious: ensure every student, in every school, had access to high-quality literacy materials and the support to use them well. Today, the citywide data shows that approach is working.

At a glance, state test scores show ELA proficiency rose:

• 7.2-point to 56.3% overall—the highest level since 2012
• 12.9 points for third graders
• 15 points for fifth graders
• And gains were broad-based, with notable improvement among multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and across racial and ethnic groups

We are honored to be NYC’s partner and have the chance to celebrate their success. As HMH CEO Jack Lynch said, “When you put high-quality curriculum in the hands of teachers and provide them with the right tools, support, and instructional vision, students succeed.”

And it’s true: teachers are the heart of this progress. A recent Educators for Excellence-NY survey echoes that point: 79% say the support they receive to implement NYC Reads materials is effective, and 85% report their instructional practices have changed “moderately or very much” since adoption. Overall, those with access to strong, curriculum-aligned professional learning report greater confidence, more positive perceptions of their materials, and less need for supplementary resources.

If teacher expertise plus aligned support drive change, then the job of educational leaders and curriculum developers is to keep that support strong. That means:

• Ongoing professional development: Equip teachers with the knowledge and skills required to effectively implement high-quality literacy materials and maximize student learning.
• Data-driven insights: Use survey and usage data (including the kinds of feedback provided in the E4E survey) to better understand what teachers need to be successful and identify areas for enhancement and deepening in our core curriculum products.
• Strong, effective partnerships: Collaborate with districts and school leaders so that high-quality literacy materials and other core curriculum products align with their needs and goals.

These have been HMH’s guiding principles as a partner in NYC Reads, supporting the implementation of our core ELA programs Into Reading and Into Literature, across 13,605 classrooms, reaching more than 325,000 students and 33,000 teachers.

As we head into year three of NYC Reads and our partnership with NYCPS, serving 22 of the city’s 32 school districts, the focus is on sustaining and scaling these gains: continuing high-quality and discipline-specific professional learning, helping teachers adapt materials for diverse learners, and ensuring that every student—regardless of starting point—can build the literacy skills they need for the future.

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