A push to strengthen literacy instruction is gaining momentum in Brooklyn, with Assemblymember Robert Carroll securing $120,000 for local public schools.

Assemblymember Robert Carroll has secured $120,000 in state funding to enhance structured literacy programs at three public schools in his district: P.S. 10 and P.S. 39 in Park Slope and P.S. 130 in Kensington.

The funds will be distributed evenly among the schools to support evidence-based literacy instruction and professional development for educators. This allocation builds on a previous $140,000 grant Carroll provided to other schools in the district.

“I am proud to have secured $120,000 in State funding to support structured literacy programming at schools in my district,” said Assemblymember Robert Carroll.

Carroll’s advocacy reflects his commitment to improving literacy education, particularly for children with dyslexia and other phonological challenges. Drawing on his own experience with dyslexia, which was identified early in his education and addressed through structured, sequential interventions, Carroll champions scientifically supported teaching methods to ensure all children develop strong reading skills and succeed academically.

School leaders and education officials have welcomed the funding, emphasizing the importance of research-backed strategies to improve literacy outcomes for diverse student populations. For example, P.S. 130 plans to use the grant to train teachers in explicit, systematic and multisensory reading instruction targeting foundational skills essential for literacy proficiency.

Carroll has been instrumental in shaping state policy on literacy and learning disabilities. In 2023, the Legislature passed his Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force Act, which was signed into law and led to a comprehensive report recommending reforms to better support students with learning differences. Building on that work, Carroll secured $250,000 in the 2025-26 state budget to establish a Center for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia, a key recommendation of the task force.

Additional legislation passed in 2024, the Dyslexia Diagnosis Access Act, requires private insurance to cover neuropsychological evaluations for dyslexia diagnosis. The 2024-25 state budget also incorporated provisions from Carroll’s Right to Read Act, establishing science-based literacy instruction as the statewide standard.

Over the past five years, Carroll has directed more than $260,000 in state funding to literacy initiatives in his district, including support for the Brooklyn Public Library’s adult literacy programs and a $1.3 million investment in Columbia University’s Promise Project, which provides neuropsychological exams and teacher training for early identification of reading disorders in underserved communities.

“We are incredibly grateful for Assemblymember Carroll’s partnership and dedication to ensuring every child becomes a confident reader,” said Chancellor of New York City Public Schools Melissa Aviles-Ramos.

Carroll continues to advance legislation aimed at improving literacy and dyslexia support statewide. His proposals include creating a dedicated Center for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia, expanding Medicaid coverage for diagnostic testing, promoting evidence-based literacy efforts in libraries and establishing statewide standards for dyslexia screening and intervention.

Through these efforts, Assemblymember Carroll is pursuing a comprehensive strategy for literacy reform focused on early identification, evidence-based instruction and eliminating barriers to diagnosis and support for students with learning differences.