NYC Reads with Really Great Reading
NYC Reads defines the "what." Really Great Reading delivers the "how."
As an approved foundational skills curriculum for NYC schools, Really Great Reading works alongside your core literacy program to provide the explicit, evidence-based instruction students need to become proficient readers. Our programs help schools close reading gaps, strengthen foundational skills, and drive measurable outcomes through daily, systematic instruction. With solutions for both core instruction and intervention, plus embedded professional learning that supports teachers in the moment, Really Great Reading helps schools turn the promise of NYC Reads into classroom success.
Not in New York City? Visit our New York State page to explore structured literacy solutions for districts across New York.
NYC schools are implementing high-quality instructional materials while working to accelerate literacy achievement for diverse student populations. Really Great Reading helps schools strengthen foundational skills instruction, build educator expertise, and improve reading outcomes across grades and student groups.
Structured literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading and approved by the NYC Department of Education. Our programs provide the explicit, systematic foundational skills instruction needed to support NYC Reads implementation and improve student achievement.
Sustainable literacy improvement starts with confident educators. Through practical professional learning, embedded instructional supports, and ongoing coaching, Really Great Reading helps teachers effectively deliver evidence-based reading instruction every day.
Explicit instruction, consistent routines, and clear language structures help multilingual learners build foundational reading skills while supporting language development and honoring language-affirming instructional practices.
For upper elementary and adolescent students, reading struggles may persist even after foundational decoding is in place. Orbit helps bridge the gap between word reading and understanding by building the vocabulary, word analysis, and comprehension skills needed to make meaning from grade-level text. See how students move from reading words to stronger comprehension with 4 weeks of access to Orbit.
NYC has made a significant investment in literacy through NYC Reads; adopting high-quality instructional materials, expanding professional learning, and prioritizing evidence-based reading instruction. The next challenge is ensuring that these investments translate into consistent classroom practice and measurable student outcomes. Success depends not only on understanding the Science of Reading, but on equipping every educator with the tools, routines, and support needed to implement it effectively every day.
Many students continue to struggle with decoding, word recognition, and reading fluency. When foundational skills are not automatic, students must devote valuable cognitive resources to figuring out words, leaving less capacity for comprehension, knowledge building, and engagement with grade-level texts.
Effective literacy instruction requires more than a curriculum. Teachers need clear instructional routines, explicit teaching tools, and ongoing professional learning that supports implementation in real classroom settings. Job-embedded coaching and in-the-moment guidance help ensure consistency across classrooms and grade levels.
Principals and instructional leaders need solutions that deliver visible student growth without adding complexity to teachers' workloads. The most effective literacy supports integrate seamlessly into existing instructional frameworks, strengthen implementation fidelity, and provide clear evidence of progress toward school and district literacy goals.
Across NYC, educators have received training, adopted new curricula, and embraced the goals of NYC Reads. But implementation remains the difference between intention and results.
Really Great Reading helps schools bridge the gap between literacy initiatives and student outcomes through explicit instruction, practical routines, and implementation support that teachers can use immediately.
Really Great Reading provides flexible pathways that support both foundational skills instruction and targeted literacy intervention, while also building educator capacity and expertise through professional learning and coaching.
By strengthening essential foundational skills, Really Great Reading makes your core instruction work better. Explicit routines in phonics, decoding, encoding, and fluency, paired with progress monitoring, ensure students can successfully engage with their mandated NYC Reads programs.
Best for:
- Strengthening Tier 1 instruction
- Supporting consistent NYC Reads implementation
- Improving decoding and fluency outcomes
For students who need additional support, RGR provides skill-based intervention focused on closing gaps quickly, from foundational decoding to comprehension. Every RGR pathway includes PD to support successful implementation and sustained instructional growth.
Best for:
- Students with persistent reading gaps
- Small-group, pull-out, or push-in intervention across K-12
- Schools seeking flexible, skills-based intervention options
Improved literacy outcomes depend on strong instructional execution. RGR provides job-embedded professional learning, literacy coaching, and structured routines that help educators confidently and consistently translate the Science of Reading principles into daily instruction.
Best for:
- Schools implementing NYC Reads
- Districts focusing on instructional consistency
- Teachers transitioning to structured literacy practices
With one of the nation's largest multilingual learner populations, NYC schools need literacy instruction that accelerates reading development while supporting language growth. Really Great Reading's structured literacy programs provide explicit, systematic instruction in phonics, decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension to help multilingual learners build the foundational skills needed to access grade-level text and content.
Designed to complement ENL services and core literacy instruction, our programs use clear routines, cumulative learning, and scaffolded language supports that help multilingual learners develop reading proficiency while leveraging their linguistic strengths. The result is a practical, evidence-based approach that supports educators in meeting the diverse needs of NYC classrooms.
A Pennsylvania district that mirrors what many NY districts are working toward: moving beyond reactive intervention by aligning consistent, structured literacy instruction across all Tier 1 classrooms. The results show up in early literacy benchmark data and a reduced reliance on intervention.
The challenge: Inconsistent literacy practices failed to build foundational skills across K–2, causing students to struggle by 2nd grade despite appearing to progress in earlier years.
The approach: The district embedded RGR's structured literacy routines into daily Tier 1 instruction, supported by targeted PD.
The result: Kindergarten literacy proficiency increased by 28%, and first-grade benchmark scores grew by 24%.
RGR's literacy approach is grounded in the Science of Reading and validated through independent third-party research, with all-green EdReports ratings and ESSA evidence alignment. In NYC, RGR has been approved by NYCPS as a high-quality foundational skills curriculum, supporting schools as they implement NYC Reads and strengthen literacy outcomes for all students.
If you'd like to explore how Really Great Reading can support your school's NYC Reads implementation, we'd be glad to connect.
"We realized we couldn’t intervene our way out of the problem. We needed to fix Tier 1.
Our data has definitely grown. In kindergarten, we’re over 80% at benchmark. First grade isn’t there yet district-wide, but we have pockets at 90%."
Strengthen literacy outcomes while supporting existing curriculum investments and instructional priorities.
Equip teachers with practical routines, implementation support, and Science of Reading-aligned instructional tools.
Provide explicit, structured literacy instruction that supports diverse learners while fitting into existing school structures.
John Henyecz
John works directly with NYC schools to support literacy implementation, teacher training, and foundational skills instruction aligned to NYC Reads. Whether you're exploring a single-school implementation or looking to strengthen literacy outcomes across grade levels, John can help identify the right starting point for your school.
How one district increased fifth-grade decoding proficiency from 30% to 85% while helping 84% of students demonstrate measurable academic growth.
An overview of RGR's Tier 2 and Tier 3 elementary intervention pathways for New York district, BOCES, and city school leaders.
An overview of our structured PD offerings for New York educators, designed to strengthen Science of Reading instruction, support implementation fidelity, and build long-term instructional capacity across classrooms and schools.
How does Really Great Reading support NYC Reads?
Really Great Reading supports NYC Reads by strengthening the foundational literacy skills students need to become successful readers. As a high-quality foundational skills curriculum approved by NYCPS, RGR helps schools build decoding, encoding, phonemic awareness, and fluency while complementing the core instructional materials used in NYC Reads. Through explicit instruction, practical classroom routines, and professional learning, RGR helps schools turn literacy priorities into measurable student outcomes.
How does RGR work alongside approved core programs?
Really Great Reading is designed to complement—not replace—your core curriculum. While your core program provides literacy instruction and knowledge-building experiences, RGR strengthens the foundational reading skills that enable students to access increasingly complex text. Schools use RGR to provide explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, encoding, and fluency, helping students get more from their core literacy program.
Can NYC schools purchase RGR through FAMIS and ShopDOE?
Yes. NYC schools can purchase Really Great Reading through established NYC purchasing pathways, including FAMIS and ShopDOE. Depending on the materials selected, schools may also use instructional budgets, Title I funds, and professional learning funds. Our team can help schools navigate purchasing options and identify the most appropriate pathway for their needs.
How does RGR support multilingual learners?
RGR's structured literacy approach provides multilingual learners with the explicit instruction needed to develop strong reading foundations in English. Clear routines, systematic skill progression, and consistent instructional language help students build phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, and fluency while supporting access to grade-level content. RGR is designed to work alongside ENL services and language-affirming instructional practices already in place across NYC schools.
What professional learning and coaching options are available for NYC educators?
Really Great Reading offers a range of professional learning options to support successful implementation, including onsite and virtual training, coaching, implementation planning, and ongoing educator support. Professional learning is designed to help teachers confidently apply Science of Reading principles, strengthen instructional practice, and maintain implementation fidelity over time. Whether your school is just getting started or looking to deepen existing literacy work, our team can help build a support plan that meets your goals.