New York Community Trust Invests in Literacy Academy Collective to Improve Reading Instruction in Underserved Communities
Grant Aims to Combat Low Literacy Rates and Support Underserved Youth
To help combat alarmingly low literacy rates and support underserved youth, the New York Community Trust awarded a $150,000 grant to the Literacy Academy Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to improving reading instruction for struggling students.
New School to Open in September 2025
The grant will help the collective open its second public school, the Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy, in September 2025.
Education Advocates Cite Importance of Research-Based Reading Instruction
Education advocates, including Shawn Morehead, executive vice president of grants and chief program officer with the trust, emphasize the importance of research-based reading instruction in improving literacy rates.
Current Reading Instruction Criticized
The NYC Department of Education recently implemented a new reading curriculum to enhance literacy instruction, but experts say it requires further support to ensure adequate student outcomes. "For years, the city was using an approach to reading instruction that had no research base behind it," Morehead said. "It was a little bit of, well, give them the books, and they’ll figure it out."
Program Goals and Evaluation
The program aims to improve reading fundamentals, build a vocabulary-rich environment, and prepare students for success in later grades. School leaders will measure the program’s success through standardized assessments, statewide tests, and long-term indicators like high school readiness and advanced coursework.
Teacher Training and Data Analysis Crucial
Morehead emphasizes the importance of teacher training and data analysis in improving classroom reading instruction. "There are real processing differences in the way that [students’] brains take in what they see on a page and process it, and so you have to teach in a way that addresses those differences," she said.
Fostering Community Support
Morehead encourages community members to support the collective by building awareness among families and communities about the value of improving reading instruction. "People can support the collective by building awareness among families and communities about the real value in improving reading instruction, both broadly for all kids in the early grades, kids who process language differently," she said.
Pilot Program and Future Plans
The Literacy Academy Collective will enroll at least 32 students in a model classroom at P.S. 191 in Brooklyn for the 2024 to 2025 school year, with the expectation that at least 70% of students will improve reading proficiency consistent with a year of instruction. The program will perfect teacher training and development tools through this trial-run classroom.
Conclusion
The New York Community Trust’s investment in the Literacy Academy Collective aims to improve reading instruction and foster a love of reading among underserved youth. By supporting research-based reading instruction and fostering community support, the program hopes to close the literacy gap and empower the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the Literacy Academy Collective?
A: The Literacy Academy Collective is a nonprofit dedicated to improving reading instruction for struggling students in underserved communities.
Q: What is the goal of the program?
A: The program aims to improve reading fundamentals, build a vocabulary-rich environment, and prepare students for success in later grades.
Q: How will the program be evaluated?
A: School leaders will measure the program’s success through standardized assessments, statewide tests, and long-term indicators like high school readiness and advanced coursework.
