Bill > S06400

This bill requires the commissioner of education to establish and enforce new regulations for teacher education programs in New York state. Specifically, the bill mandates that all higher education institutions offering education or educational administration degrees must include a three-credit course focused on effective literacy instruction techniques. The course must provide prospective and current teachers with language-based, evidence-based methods of teaching reading, emphasizing a structured, systematic, and explicit approach known as "structured literacy" or the "science of reading." This approach is a research-backed method of reading instruction that focuses on understanding the connections between sounds and letters, and how they combine to form words. The new requirement will be integrated into the existing literacy curriculum, ensuring that future teachers are equipped with the most effective strategies for teaching reading. The bill will go into effect 180 days after becoming law, giving institutions time to develop and implement the new course requirements.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6400