Educators and Advocates Celebrate Passage of State Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Law

Evan Stone, Co-Founder and CEO of Educators for Excellence (E4E), issued the following statement:

“Today’s passage of A2687/S5569, which establishes a center for dyslexia and dysgraphia within the Department of Education, is a major step forward for the tens of thousands of New York students who deserve the high-quality support and instruction that will help them grow into confident, capable readers. Our educators supported this legislation, advocates championed it, and the New York State Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force recommended it. We are thrilled that Governor Hochul and state lawmakers, especially Assemblymember Robert C. Carroll and New York State Senator Patricia Fahy, listened to these key stakeholders and took decisive action to prioritize students’ needs.

“The need is unmistakable. For far too long, students with dyslexia and dysgraphia have gone unidentified and without the support and instruction they require. This law is a first step to ensure that all students with dyslexia and dysgraphia are identified early and receive the necessary interventions and support to become fluent readers.

“This bill is worth celebrating, yet it’s also abundantly clear that there’s more work ahead. New York’s schools still need mandatory statewide screeners to ensure all students with dyslexia are identified early, a ban on teaching methods that don’t support literacy development, and sustained investments in high-quality instructional materials and aligned professional development for educators. All of these needs and the broader push for a high-performing public education system are vital to the Governor’s vision of achieving long-term affordability in New York.”

Kate Gutwillig, an E4E-NY member and New York City elementary school educator, said the following:

“Today’s announcement is encouraging, but it’s long overdue, and it can’t be the finish line. If New York is serious about eradicating illiteracy, it should follow the playbook already working in New York City: establish a dyslexia and dysgraphia center and invest in high-quality reading instruction statewide, just as NYC Reads has done. This announcement needs to be a precursor to larger, system-wide literacy investments that students need.”

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About E4E-NY

E4E-NY is a teacher-led organization with over 17,000 members across NYC, working to ensure that educators’ voices are at the center of the policies that impact their classrooms, profession, and students. Learn more at e4e.org.