New York S 9747: Relates to early literacy education

Bill Text

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S09747 Summary:

BILL NOS09747 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A00078-A

&nbsp

SPONSORCOONEY

&nbsp

COSPNSRCLEARE, FAHY, GALLIVAN

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §819, amd §3004, Ed L

&nbsp

Requires school districts to provide instructional programming and services in reading and literacy which are evidence based and aligned with state standards; requires teachers in grades pre-K through five to attend professional development courses in reading education.

Go to top S09747 Actions:

BILL NOS09747 

&nbsp

04/02/2026REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Go to topS09747 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09747 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09747 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9747

 IN SENATE

 April 2, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to early literacy educa-
 tion

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "right to read act".
 3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to read
 4 as follows:
 5 § 819. Early literacy education. 1. For purposes of this section, the
 6 following terms shall have the following meanings:
 7 (a) "Evidence-based" means the instruction or item described is based
 8 on rigorous, reliable, trustworthy and valid scientific evidence and has
 9 demonstrated a record of success in addressing students' reading compe-
 10 tency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary develop-
 11 ment, reading fluency and comprehension, including background knowledge
 12 oral language and writing.
 13 (b) "Phonemic awareness" means the ability to notice, think about and
 14 manipulate individual sounds in spoken syllables and words.
 15 (c) "Vocabulary development" means the process of acquiring new words.
 16 "Vocabulary development" includes improving all areas of communication,
 17 including listening, speaking, reading and writing which is directly
 18 related to school achievement and is a strong predictor for reading
 19 success.
 20 (d) "Reading fluency" means the ability to read words, phrases and
 21 sentences accurately, at an appropriate speed, and with expression.
 22 (e) "Reading comprehension" means a function of word recognition
 23 skills and language comprehension skills and shall include having suffi-
 24 cient background information and vocabulary in order for the reader to
 25 understand the words in front of them. "Reading comprehension" also
 26 includes the active process that requires intentional thinking during
 27 which meaning is constructed through interactions between the text and
 28 reader. Comprehension skills are taught explicitly by demonstrating,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15404-01-6

 S. 9747 2

 1 explaining, modeling and implementing specific cognitive strategies to
 2 help beginning readers derive meaning through intentional, problem-solv-
 3 ing thinking processes.
 4 (f) "Three-cueing", or "meaning structure visual" (MSV) means a method
 5 that teaches students to use meaning, structure and syntax, and visual
 6 cues when attempting to read an unknown word.
 7 (g) "Cultural responsiveness" means alignment with the New York state
 8 culturally-responsive sustaining education (CRSE) framework.
 9 (h) "Culturally-responsive sustaining education (CRSE) framework"
 10 means a framework that helps educators create student-centered learning
 11 environments that: affirm racial, linguistic and cultural identities;
 12 prepare students for rigor and independent learning, develop students'
 13 abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically
 14 marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change.
 15 2. Commencing the school year following the publication of the
 16 approved instructional programming as set forth in subdivision five of
 17 this section, each school district shall provide all students in pre-
 18 kindergarten through fifth grade programming and service