NYC officials have released that they’re planning to open a new school that focuses on children with dyslexia and literacy differences.
Speaking virtually, Chancellor David Banks made the announcement during an education-focused state budget hearing, as part of a response to Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s question regarding his thoughts on a universal learning disabilities screening for children and young people. He commented:
“I’ve met with many other advocates around the city, and we’ve worked very closely around the creation of a school- specifically a public school- that will be dedicated specifically to kids with dyslexia. It will be the first time we’ve had that in New York City.” Banks also made reference to the fact that the plans are part of a larger focus on learning difficulties in education by Mayor Eric Adams, whom Banks commented “wants to see such a school in every borough.” Adams made a number of speeches on the campaign trail about the disparities in the city’s public education system, and advocated repeatedly for universal dyslexia screening as part of a programme designed to break the school-to-prison pipeline and help combat low literacy across the board.
Chancellor Banks’ new dyslexia school would join The Bridge Preparatory Charter School as an institution located in NYC that specifically caters to the education of children and young people with dyslexia and literacy differences, however the proposed school would function as a district-operated institution, the first of its kind in the city. The chancellor’s comments hint that perhaps addressing the issue of literacy and neurodiversity support in mainstream education may be part of Adams’ new administration’s early priorities, a move likely to be welcomed by many school and parent groups in the area.
Banks has previously made comments that opening new schools will be a key factor in his administration’s approach to education and social care, and that he wants to replicate the systems already in place that are doing good work and supporting the students that need it the most effectively. The chancellor recently visited The Windward School, a private co-ed independent day school located in New York City that caters specifically to the needs of language-based learning difficulties as part of a tour he undertook with Assemblyman Robert Carroll, who has also advocated for universal dyslexia screening in recent months.
Should these plans come to fruition, NYC could provide a vital modern model for addressing dyslexia and literacy difference support in a post-Covid educational landscape, and provide a valuable living resource for neurodiversity support in education reform going forwards.
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