SUNY Plattsburgh Faculty Help Lead Statewide Science of Reading Initiative
SUNY Plattsburgh faculty played a key role in helping to shape SUNY’s new system-wide Science of Reading policy and are already implementing evidence-based literacy instruction through partnerships with North Country school districts.
The Science of Reading is a body of interdisciplinary research that examines how children learn to read and what instructional practices are most effective. It emphasizes explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and oral language. Earlier this month, SUNY announced that all educator preparation programs across the system will align with this framework.
For SUNY Plattsburgh, the announcement reflects work that is already well underway.
Faculty in the School of Education, Health, and Human Services were part of the lead group that helped develop the statewide Science of Reading framework, including participation on the SUNY system committee that informed the new policy.
Dr. Yong Yu, associate vice president for academic affairs and former chair of the Department of Education, served on the statewide committee that helped shape the framework and the policy now being adopted across SUNY.
Important Step
“This is an important step forward for literacy education across the state, and it is gratifying to see SUNY Plattsburgh recognized as part of this leadership effort,” Yu said. “Our faculty have been deeply engaged in this work for several years, and our curriculum is already fully aligned with the principles of the Science of Reading.”
SUNY Plattsburgh is also one of only three SUNY campuses to receive funding through a statewide Science of Reading grant, alongside Buffalo State and SUNY Oswego. The initiative is led by SUNY New Paltz, which serves as the system’s coordinating institution and hosts a funded Center for the Science of Reading.
At SUNY Plattsburgh, the grant is currently led by Dr. Kathryn Alton, assistant professor, and Dr. Emily Hoeh, associate professor, as co-principal investigators, with Dr. Denise Simard, dean of Education, Health and Human Services, serving as a key lead on the project.
Through the grant and related initiatives, SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and students are already working directly with local school districts, including Beekmantown Central School District and Au Sable Valley Central School District, to implement evidence-based literacy instruction in classrooms.
“The New York State Science of Reading and BranchEd Elite literacy grants have given us a valuable opportunity to strengthen our already well-established literacy coursework and connect with national and state-level experts,” Hoeh said. “That collaboration helps ensure we are preparing future educators with the most current, evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction.”
Faculty Willing to Innovate
“It is incredibly rewarding to engage in work that benefits both our teacher candidates and elementary students in local schools,” Alton said. “Our department is fortunate to have faculty who are willing to innovate in literacy coursework in support of meaningful, real-world learning for SUNY Plattsburgh students.”
“These partnerships allow our students to gain hands-on experience while also supporting teachers and learners in the region,” Simard said. “It is a powerful example of how higher education and K-12 schools can work together to improve educational outcomes.”
The new SUNY policy requires all educator preparation programs to align with the Science of Reading framework by December 2026. At SUNY Plattsburgh, much of that work is already complete.
"SUNY Plattsburgh’s faculty are at the forefront of evidence-based research, benefitting all the people in the broader communities we serve,” said Dr. Marcus Tye, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “This assures students of academic excellence in our programs and an education that is second to none in both online and in person modalities. The Science of Reading grant is but one of many areas that highlight the excellence of our faculty and academic leaders."
The Science of Reading initiative reflects SUNY’s broader commitment to strengthening teacher preparation and improving literacy outcomes across New York state. For SUNY Plattsburgh, it also highlights the university’s role as a leader in educational innovation and community partnership in the North Country.
