For NYS, return to the basics of reading

Kids' reading scores across the country and in New York remain chronically and stubbornly low. A recent national report shows high school seniors are reading at lower levels than at any time since at least 1992. A little more than half of New York students in grades 3-8 aren't reading proficiently.

That's a major concern.

New York is one of 40 states that since 2013 have recognized that reading instruction needs a relaunch. But a fundamental question remains — what should be done when a kid still can't read despite interventions?

Long Island schools are getting back to basics of reading instruction by emphasizing phonics and the science of reading. There's more to it, but the idea is to stop teaching kids to read by using context clues and instead provide clear phonetic instruction.

New York's push was announced last year as its "Back to Basics" plan, aided by $10 million to train 20,000 teachers in reading instruction. It will take a few years to see if the plan raises test scores, so educational policymakers have to resist making changes again too soon. Swapping curriculum every few years jolts the continuity needed to evaluate the efficacy of a program. Unless glaring and detrimental errors are found, stay the course with phonics and science-based reading instruction.

Reading proficiency rates on Long Island are disturbing, and scores vary wildly. In some districts, more than 80% of students read proficiently, while at others, fewer than 30% read proficiently. That wide disparity is unacceptable, just as it's unacceptable that half of New York's kids aren't reading at grade level. If half of Long Island's roads were blocked we would demand immediate action. The state should require districts below a reading proficiency threshold to enact instruction that works.

Local control advocates will contend that each district should have full authority to teach its kids as it sees fit since New York State doesn't dictate curriculum to individual school districts. But the state's rollout of the "Back to Basics" plan sure sounds like a mandate. By the end of this September, school districts "will be required to annually review their curriculum and instructional practices for alignment with those issued by SED ..." a state Education Department news release said.

Any child, especially in elementary school, identified as reading below grade level needs an immediate emergency intervention plan, and not just an extra half-hour of reading instruction a week. To move up a grade, a child must be a proficient reader.

It's time for the state to hold all districts to the same standard of excellence in reading instruction. Identify what works best and stick with it. Being a good reader contributes to financial security, physical and mental health, and involvement in civics.

We have to get this right. A kid in a Long Island school who can't read is unconscionable.