New Reports: Teachers Call for $200M Investment to Grow, Sustain, and Improve NYC Reads and NYC Solves

April 1, 2026 (New York City) – New data from Educators for Excellence-New York (E4E–NY) shows that educators are growing increasingly confident with NYC Reads and NYC Solves – the city’s signature reading and math initiatives – and are also calling on city leaders to grow, sustain, and improve them. 

“NYC Reads and NYC Solves are working and the progress we’re seeing in classrooms across our city is proof of what’s possible when we invest in our schools and trust our educators,” said NYC Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m committed to pushing our system to greater heights. That means continuing to expand these initiatives, deepening support for our educators, and ensuring that our schools have the resources they need to keep this momentum going.”

After NYC Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels indicated openness to expanding the initiatives earlier this month, advocates say recent listening sessions and a roundtable with educators yesterday evening represent a promising commitment to incorporating educator voice into next steps.

“It’s extremely encouraging that we have a Chancellor who is committed to not only keeping these initiatives in place, but also has voiced a willingness to grow, sustain, and improve upon the progress that’s been made,” said Evan Stone, Co-Founder and CEO of Educators for Excellence. “NYC Reads and NYC Solves are working. Educators have been clear through petitions, focus groups, surveys, and meetings with the Chancellor directly that these initiatives need to expand and be supported with sustained investment from the city.”

While perceptions with NYC Reads and NYC Solves have trended positively, educators also voice increasing uncertainty about future efforts to sustain and build on this progress without permanent funding from the City Council. Both initiatives currently rely on short-term philanthropy and year-to-year funding that is not guaranteed to continue. 

Advocates warn that without $200 million in permanently baselined funding for professional learning and implementation support, schools risk losing critical support just as students and educators are beginning to see unprecedented learning gains. Among NYC Solves educators, 83% of those highly satisfied with professional learning report positive impacts on student comprehension, compared to just 17% of those who are dissatisfied.

“Without permanent funding, we risk losing the support our students and educators are just starting to benefit from,” said Teresa Ranieri, a literacy coach in the Bronx. “Implementation support has driven the progress we are seeing. The City Council and mayor must ensure continued support for students and ongoing training for educators so schools can build stability instead of relying on temporary funding.”

Educators also emphasize that because NYC Reads and NYC Solves have not yet reached all grade levels, many students are missing out on the benefits of a coherent, high-quality curriculum, creating unnecessary gaps as students move between grades.

“You’re seeing 6th-grade teachers having to acclimate students to a new curriculum and learning style that’s radically different from what they learned in elementary school,” said Lauren DeVita, a middle school math teacher in Queens. “The fragmented curricular approach in early grades is making middle school way harder for New York City students than it needs to be. We need to expand these initiatives so there’s more coherence for our students across their entire academic journey.”

According to the report, educators are also calling for additional support to better serve students with IEPs and English Learners, as well as more time for peer-to-peer collaboration and learning.

To read the NYC Reads pulse check report, visit https://www.nyclearns.org/nyc-reads

To read the NYC Solves pulse check report, visit https://www.nyclearns.org/nyc-solves