Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District says literacy program meets new New York State requirements; UFLI phonics and spelling components cited
Summary
Rye City School District administrators told the Board they already meet the six pillars in recently passed state literacy legislation and that the district’s mix of units of study, UFLI phonics and Spelling Connections provides a comprehensive approach.
At the Rye City School District Board of Education meeting on Jan. 14, 2025, district literacy leaders briefed the board on new New York State requirements that direct the State Education Department to provide districts with literacy best practices and require districts to attest by Sept. 1 that the practices are present.
Administrators told the board the state’s guidance centers on six pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and oral language. The Rye City School District said its comprehensive literacy program already embeds those pillars across reading-and-writing units (K–5), the UFLI phonics program (systematic phonics instruction and new assessments) and Spelling Connections for grades 3–5.
During the presentation the administration said teachers reported improved phonetic skills in early grades, increased attention to spelling in upper elementary grades, and stronger student confidence. The district emphasized that its rollout predated the state mandate and that it is conducting ongoing data monitoring through literacy committees and grade-level teams.
Board members asked about prior training and programs; administrators confirmed that Orton-Gillingham-informed interventions and other targeted supports were in place before the UFLI pilot. The administration said the district added assessments such as Heggerty and phonics blending measures to monitor progress.
District leaders characterized the district as “ahead of the curve” on implementing the state’s pillars and said no emergency changes are required before the state’s September attestation deadline. No formal action was taken at the meeting.
