Mayor Adams, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos Expand Signature Initiatives NYC Reads and NYC Solves, Continue to Strengthen Literacy and Math Instruction in New York City

April 21, 2025

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With This Expansion, Over 490,000 Students Will Benefit From NYC Reads and NYC Solves By 2025-2026 School Year

NYC Reads Will Be Implemented in Middle Schools for First Time

New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos today expanded NYC Reads and NYC Solves to 186 additional schools across 14 districts, expanding high-quality, evidence-based foundational reading and math curricula to middle school students across the five boroughs. With this expansion, over 490,000 students will benefit from NYC Reads and NYC Solves by the 2025-2026 school year. NYC Reads – already implemented at all K-5 schools and early childhood education programs – will be expanded, for the first time, to middle schools, starting with 102 middle schools in eight school districts, and supporting nearly 26,000 students. NYC Solves will also expand to an additional six middle school districts, supporting 84 additional schools and 32,000 additional students. Additionally, Mayor Adams announced that NYC Reads and NYC Solves will be fully implemented in middle schools across all districts by the 2027-2028 school year.

"As mayor and a proud product of New York City public schools, I know firsthand the impact of not receiving the vital foundational support needed to thrive. As a student, I prayed my teacher wouldn't call on me because our public school system didn't provide the opportunities needed to improve educational outcomes for students at every level. But through the implementation of NYC Reads and NYC Solves, we have brought evidence-based curricula to our public schools as we zero in on what's needed to teach our students how to read and do math," said Mayor Adams. "Today, we are expanding these opportunities to now support a total of nearly 500,000 students across the city to make an impact that will last a lifetime. By broadening these initiatives to reach more students, we are continuing our track record of improving math and English language arts scores in New York City and helping ensure kids don't have to worry about being called on in class going forward."

"Literacy and math skills form the foundation for bold futures, but for too long, our Black and Brown students were left behind," said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. "We launched NYC Reads and NYC Solves – grounded in high-quality, evidence-based instructional materials and strategies – to support all of our students as they build these critical, foundational skills. We are thrilled to be able to expand these transformative initiatives to reach even more students in even more grade bands."

NYC Reads focuses classroom instruction on proven, research-based curricula, supported by intensive coaching and professional learning for educators aligned with those specific curricula, in order to ensure all public school students, in every neighborhood, regardless of their background or identity, are experiencing rigorous, relevant, engaging reading instruction that works. Early signs of progress in NYC Reads include a 1.8-point increase in K-2 screener data. Schools in Districts 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13 will be using middle school curriculum from EL Education, while schools in District 19 will use middle school curriculum from Wit & Wisdom.

NYC Solves is expanding to middle schools in districts 5, 6, 8, 17, 25, and 31, and schools will have the option to choose between Illustrative Mathematics, Amplify Desmos, and IReady Mathematics curricula. Districts that are already participating in NYC Solves will continue to use Illustrative Mathematics. Currently, all public high schools and 101 middle schools use high-quality curriculum for math instruction, as announced under the first phase of NYC Solves.

Beginning this spring, teachers will begin professional development for NYC Reads and NYC Solves. As in prior phases for both initiatives, there will be 12 days of job-embedded coaching in the fall, with the opportunity for additional training as requested. The Adams administration has long prioritized literacy and mathematics instruction, championing the standardized use of high-quality, research-backed curricula options across districts. NYC Reads and NYC Solves are the largest and most ambitious districtwide efforts in the country, ensuring that all students are benefiting from high-quality curricula.

Through both initiatives, educators are receiving an unprecedented level of intensive training and coaching, and visits to over 9,000 classrooms reveal that the curricula are being consistently used. Additionally, surveys have shown that more than 75 percent of leaders and teachers believe the support they're receiving is effective. As part of NYC Reads, over 1,200 families have signed on as NYC Reads Ambassadors to support readers in their community, giving away over 10,000 books to 1,600 families. Over 57 percent of families have also reported an immediate positive impact in their child's reading. Twenty-one literacy hubs were also established in nine districts, adding books and other learning materials to public spaces, community centers, and small businesses across New York City.

"Our latest survey of educators is clear: confidence in NYC Reads and Solves is rising, and the momentum is real," said Marielys Divanne, executive director, Educators for Excellence – New York.

"This expansion reflects what educators have been calling for – and it's a powerful sign that city leadership is listening. Now we must get implementation right by investing in high-quality professional learning, inclusive of peer-led training that helps educators meet the needs of all learners."