Q&A
Addressing literacy challenges for struggling readers in high schools
2:01:28
ยท
143 sec
Council Member Dinowitz raises concerns about literacy instruction for struggling readers in high schools, highlighting the lack of incentives for schools to address this issue. DOE officials discuss current and upcoming initiatives to tackle this problem.
- DOE plans to implement mandated interventions for high schoolers as part of New York City Reads initiative
- A partnership with McGraw Hill offers credit-bearing courses to help high school students develop reading skills
- Officials acknowledge the need for better incentives and expectations for schools to provide necessary literacy instruction
Eric Dinowitz
2:01:28
more success.
2:01:29
I do wanna ask about someone that does need specialized instruction, and that's literacy in high schools.
Althea Stevens
2:01:34
Mhmm.
Eric Dinowitz
2:01:34
Something I saw a huge Mhmm.
2:01:36
Problem with, students coming into my classroom who couldn't decode.
Althea Stevens
2:01:40
Mhmm.
Eric Dinowitz
2:01:41
And over the years, it became very clear to me that DOE has no interest in providing any incentives for schools to assess and educate students who need literacy.
2:01:55
They've done, you know, Wilson trainings here and there.
2:01:57
And when I brought this up with the DOE, they said, well, we're not allowed to give credit to schools for doing what's essentially an element high schools can't give credit to high schools for what's essentially an elementary school skill.
2:02:08
Has that changed in recent years?
2:02:11
And if so, what incentives are in place to ensure that our high school students are able to read?
2:02:18
Are schools dis still disincentivized from providing classes that our students may need?
2:02:26
This is the in the in the community schools.
Christina Foti
2:02:29
I mean, the next step for New York City Reads is to to provide mandated interventions, and I I that is what needs to happen for our high schoolers.
2:02:38
We're seeing great success with, certain sets of, interventions that catch kids up in terms of learning how to read.
2:02:46
And so I wouldn't call it an incentive, but I would call it an upcoming expectation.
Eric Dinowitz
2:02:50
But if schools are are being told, the most important thing for you to do is have students accrue credits in certain classes.
2:02:57
And the most important thing for you to do is have you know, by sophomore year, x percent of your students will have an English credit, and these reading classes don't provide English credits.
2:03:08
How are you insurance ensuring that principals aren't scared to provide kids with the education they actually need and deserve?
UNKNOWN
2:03:14
Yep.
2:03:14
Thank you so much for asking.
2:03:15
I can provide a quick update on this.
2:03:17
Just working with the Queen's South superintendent of high schools, we actually have a partnership with McGraw Hill corrective reading that does offer credit bearing courses that help students develop reading skills.
2:03:28
And that's happening at the b levels and the c levels where students are earning credit at the high school level and developing their reading skills, which is a a phenomenal move that we need to adopt.
Eric Dinowitz
2:03:40
Is there any any publication or data available for that online publicly that we can all see?
UNKNOWN
2:03:47
I don't have anything on that, but I'm happy to send you the information on corrective reading.