Facts on The Right to Read Act: A78 / S9747
What It Is, Why It Matters, and How You Can Help
What Is the Right to Read Act?
The Right to Read Act (Assembly Bill A78, introduced by Assembly Member R. Carroll with a large bipartisan group of co-sponsors) would amend the Education Law by adding a new Section 819 to establish requirements for early literacy education based on evidence-based and research-backed literacy instruction across New York schools. The companion Senate bill is S9747.
Additional information is available here:
Assembly Bill A78
Senate Bill S9747
What Would It Require?
- All New York public schools to use structured literacy instruction — an evidence-based approach grounded in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
- Teachers in grades Pre-K through 5 to complete professional development in evidence-based reading education
- Early screening of students to identify reading difficulties before they compound
- Appropriate interventions for students who are identified as struggling readers
Why Does This Matter?
Dyslexia affects approximately 15 to 20% of the population — about one in every five people. In New York specifically, 12% of students have been identified as having dyslexia — and that figure almost certainly undercounts the true number, since many students go unidentified throughout their school years. [1], [2]
In U.S. schools, approximately 15 to 20% of students show symptoms of dyslexia, yet over 40 million adults in the United States have dyslexia while only about 2 million have received a formal diagnosis — a gap that begins in underfunded and undertrained classrooms. [3]
The research on structured literacy is unambiguous: it works for all students and is essential for students with dyslexia. Yet many New York schools still use outdated instructional methods that the science does not support. The Right to Read Act would fix that.
Where Does the Bill Stand?
A78 was prefiled on January 8, 2025 and has been referred to the Committee on Education. Its Senate companion S9747 is moving through the Senate simultaneously. The bill has strong bipartisan support and a growing coalition of co-sponsors. [4]
What Can I Do?
The most impactful thing you can do right now is contact your State Senator and Assembly Member directly. We’ve made a tool to help you find your representatives and send them a pre-written message in under two minutes.