At a glance
- Programs: HMH Into Reading®, HMH Into Literature®
- Subject: Literacy Curriculum
- Report Type: Efficacy Study
- Grade Level: Elementary, Middle
- Region: Northeast
- Race/Ethnicity: Asian, Black, Hispanic, White
- District Urbanicity: Urban
- District Size: Large
- Implementation Model: Core Instruction
In 2023, more than half of New York City’s public school students were reading below grade level. Against the backdrop of this citywide literacy crisis, the nation’s largest school district set its sights on a sweeping transformation: bringing the science of reading and evidence-based literacy instruction to students in public schools across New York City. NYC Reads emerged as a response to uneven literacy outcomes and a call to action, unifying the entire community around a coherent approach to teaching students how to read and write.
This case study explores how the implementation of NYC Reads — shaped by high-quality instructional materials, curriculum embedded professional learning, instructional coherence, and citywide collaboration — is contributing to encouraging signs of improved literacy outcomes for students across New York City’s public schools. Early results are promising: in 2025, NYCPS proficiency rates in Grades 3–8 English Language Arts improved by 7.2 percentage points, signaling significant progress and the positive impact of citywide investments in high-quality curriculum, aligned professional learning, and system-wide coherence.
What is NYC Reads?
To learn more about the NYC Reads initiative and its implementation, check out this conversation between Dan Weisberg, Former Deputy Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, and Matthew Mugo Fields, President of HMH’s Integrated Platform Business Unit.