Enrollment in The Reading Institute's Science of Reading Course Surpasses 5,000 Educators

New York, NY — The Reading Institute today announced that more than 5,000 educators have enrolled in its Science of Reading Intro Course over the past two years, marking a major milestone in the organization’s effort to expand access to evidence-based literacy training. An additional 500 CUNY undergraduate and graduate students have also enrolled through Brooklyn College during the current academic year as part of their preparation to enter the teaching profession.

Launched in partnership with NYCPS and Brooklyn College, the Science of Reading Intro Course was designed to address a persistent gap in teacher preparation. While districts are increasingly adopting science-of-reading-aligned curricula, many educators have not received formal training in how children actually learn to read, or why these instructional shifts matter. The course is designed to support educators as schools implement NYC Reads by strengthening teachers’ understanding of how evidence-based literacy instruction works in practice.

“Curriculum alone is not enough,” said Dr. Katie Pace Miles, founder and president of The Reading Institute and associate professor at Brooklyn College. “Teachers need a strong understanding of the development of literacy in order to use those curricular materials effectively. The rapid uptake of this course shows how eager educators are for practical, evidence-based learning that connects research directly to classroom practice.”

The milestone reflects growing momentum across New York City schools and districts, including PS 189 in Manhattan, District 31 on Staten Island, and District 20 in Brooklyn.

In Brooklyn’s District 20 alone, more than 530 educators signed up for the course last month, underscoring the rapid pace of adoption across the city. At PS 189, an initial pilot involving a small group of educators helped catalyze schoolwide participation and drew national attention to the importance of teacher knowledge alongside curriculum reform. On Staten Island, District 31 has emerged as a district-level example of sustained engagement with evidence-based literacy practices, underscoring the scalability of the course across diverse school contexts.

These local efforts mirror a broader statewide and national shift toward structured literacy and align with New York City’s NYC Reads initiative and Governor Kathy Hochul’s Back to Basics agenda.

Developed by Dr. Miles and The Reading Institute team in partnership with NYCPS, the asynchronous, 10-hour course is divided into ten interactive modules. Each blends video instruction from subject-matter experts, authentic NYCPS classroom footage, and real-world application examples. Topics include phonemic awareness, orthographic mapping, phonics, fluency, comprehension, writing, and literacy for neurodivergent learners. The course is distributed through The Reading Institute and Brooklyn College by generous support from Bentzen Silverman Foundation and Heckscher Foundation for Children.

Of the 2,000 NYCPS teachers who enrolled in the course via Brooklyn College in the 2024–25 school year, 1,295 completed pre- and post-course surveys. Results show an average 34% increase in science-of-reading knowledge and a 10% increase in linguistic knowledge, equipping educators with a stronger foundation for evidence-based literacy instruction.

Free seats remain available for NYCPS educators. The course is also available to all other educators across New York State and nationwide for a subsidized cost of $25 per person.

Educators can learn more and register at www.readinginstitutenyc.org/10hrs-sor or by contacting emily@readinginstitutenyc.org for group and partnership access.