What's happening
This bill requires New York teacher education programs to include structured multisensory (structured literacy) methods in literacy courses.
Why it matters
Promotes evidence-based reading instruction. By mandating structured multisensory (structured literacy) methods, the bill aims to ensure that future teachers are trained in approaches proven effective for teaching reading, including students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Standardizes teacher preparation statewide. The law would require all New York teacher education programs—not just some—to include these methods, reducing variability in how literacy is taught to future teachers and, by extension, to students.
Could impact student literacy outcomes. Requiring these approaches in teacher training could lead to earlier identification and better support for struggling readers, potentially improving literacy rates and student achievement across the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Mandate Multisensory Literacy Teaching
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
History
- Referred to higher education
- Committee discharged and committed to higher education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Structured Literacy Training
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Jo Anne Simon
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4342
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the incorporation of the structured multisensory approach into all required literacy courses for prospective teachers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 57 to read as follows:
57. The commissioner shall establish and enforce rules and regulations requiring every institution of higher education that offers a graduate or undergraduate degree or certification program in education or educational administration located within the state to incorporate evidencebased, effective methods of teaching reading, which shall include instruction in direct and explicit structured multisensory approaches, also known as structured literacy, within the current required literacy curriculum.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10261-03-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Summary of provisions
Section one amends education law section 305 to provide that education and education administration degree certification programs incorporate explicit structured multisensory approaches, also known as structured literacy, within the current required literacy curriculum.
Section two is the enacting clause.
Justification
About 85% of children with learning disabilities have dyslexia, making it the most prevalent learning disability in children. Multisensory teaching is a proven and effective approach that helps children with learning disabilities, and is especially effective when implemented at early learning phases.
Educators should be versed in the latest evidence-based methods that help students succeed and expand educational opportunities to in dividu- als of all ability levels. This legislation will improve school condi- tions so that children with dyslexia and related learning disabilities can have equal opportunity to learn and become college and career ready.
Fiscal implications
None to the state
Effective date
This act shall take effect 90 days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.