East Islip officials outline Science of Reading rollout for K–5; public asks about pilot and funding

The East Islip Union Free School District presented plans to align its K–5 literacy instruction with the New York State Education Department’s Science of Reading guidance and to implement a program the presenters called “Magnetic Reading” (presented alongside i-Ready supports), with teacher professional development planned before classroom rollout.

“New York State Education Department is mandating our alignment with the Science of Reading principles,” said Mrs. Nacarado, principal at Twin Point Elementary School. “The Science of Reading is an evidence-based body of knowledge…that explains how students learn to read and write.”

Mrs. Corinne Skarles, director of humanities, described the instructional program and timeline: “It’s a comprehensive literacy program for our K to 5 students. It supports phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and is research based and aligned with the science of reading.” She said program components include explicit phonics instruction, decodable text and interactive lessons, ongoing assessments and adaptive learning, and teacher support and professional development. Skarles said the district plans professional development sessions in June, September and November and expects classroom implementation to begin in September.

District direction and leadership: When asked who would lead the implementation, a board member was told implementation leadership would include Dr. Belser, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, along with the director of humanities and district administration. The district said it would provide periodic updates to the board on implementation progress.

Public questions focused on pilot results and costs. Michelle Rivers, a resident, asked whether a pilot was run and how the program will be paid for, and she raised concerns about unspent federal grants: “Was there a pilot? If so, what were the results of the pilot?...Also, how much is this program costing the taxpayers?” Rivers referenced prior-year unspent IDEA (Section 611) funds and Title II funds and asked how the district will address roughly $67,680 potentially carrying over and $52,000 in unspent Title II funds from 2023–24.

Board follow-up: The administration acknowledged the questions and directed the resident to follow up with Mr. Manzo’s office for detailed accounting. The district did not present a formal pilot study or itemized cost sheet during the hearing; staff said they would supply more detailed budget and grant-spending information on request.

What the program expects to do: Presenters said expected outcomes include improved foundational reading skills, increased student engagement and confidence in literacy, alignment with state literacy requirements, and teacher supports through professional development. They emphasized multi-tiered interventions for struggling readers and ongoing progress monitoring.

No formal vote or policy change occurred at the hearing; the meeting served as a public presentation and question-and-answer opportunity. The district said additional updates on implementation and timelines would be provided to the board and the public as the work proceeds.