Newburgh screening and panel urges wider use of ‘science of reading’ to boost literacy

An evening screening of the documentary The Right to Read followed by a panel discussion held by the Newburgh City School District focused on literacy instruction and the district’s move toward evidence-based practices.

The panel, introduced by Santos Garcia, a 12th-grade student at NFA Main and member of the NFA Black History Club, featured district educators and specialists who described classroom changes tied to the “science of reading,” and student and community leaders who called for wider access to structured literacy across grades.

Why it matters: Panelists said literacy gaps disproportionately affect Black, brown and low-income students and described structured, research-based approaches as key to reversing those trends. Educators on the panel described professional development and classroom methods that teachers said produced measurable reading gains for students previously identified as struggling readers.

"This documentary explores the complexities and challenges surrounding literacy education," Santos Garcia said in opening remarks. "It sheds light on the critical…