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Bill

Bill

S 7341

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit regarding instruction in literacy instruction at institutions of higher education

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Toby Stavisky

Directs the NY Education Commissioner to audit literacy instruction in higher-education teacher-prep programs, assessing quality and whether future teachers are prepared.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 7341

Summary of Bill S 7341

Overview

  • Bill number: S 7341
  • Title: Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit regarding instruction in literacy instruction at institutions of higher education
  • Sponsor: Toby Ann Stavisky (primary)
  • Introduced: April 10, 2025
  • Status: Referred to Higher Education

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill directs the New York State Commissioner of Education to conduct an audit focused on how literacy instruction is taught within institutions of higher education.
  • The objective appears to be to assess the quality, content, and structure of literacy instruction in teacher-preparation programs to determine whether they adequately prepare future teachers to teach reading and literacy effectively.
  • The bill signals legislative interest in evaluating and potentially improving higher education preparation for literacy instruction.

Key Provisions (as stated in available information)

  • Audit directive: The commissioner of education must conduct an audit regarding instruction in literacy instruction at institutions of higher education.
  • Scope details not specified: The provided summary does not include explicit details on the audit’s scope, methodology, reporting timeline, or deliverables.
  • Reporting/Outcomes: No specific reporting deadline or legislative action plan is included in the available materials; typical audits result in a formal report with findings and recommendations, but that is not stated here.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Institutions of higher education: Colleges and universities that offer teacher-preparation programs, particularly those that include literacy instruction coursework and field experiences.
  • Teacher candidates: Students enrolled in or completing literacy and reading pedagogy courses within these programs.
  • New York State Education Department (NYSED): The department would oversee and respond to the audit process and any resulting recommendations.
  • Accreditation and professional standards bodies: May be influenced by audit findings if recommendations relate to program standards.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Current stage: Referred to the Committee on Higher Education; awaiting committee consideration.
  • Legislative path: The bill has related activity in prior sessions (S 9196) and companion measures in the Assembly (A 4780). The existence of companion/related bills suggests cross-chamber and cross-session interest in literacy instruction auditing and program quality.
  • Next steps for readers: Monitor committee hearings and any amendments. If advanced, the bill could proceed to floor votes and potential enactment, affecting how teacher-education programs address literacy instruction.

Related Bills

  • S 9196 (prior-session)
  • A 4780 (companion) — listed twice as companion in the provided materials

This summary presents the core intent and potential impact based on the bill’s title and status. Specific audit scope, methods, and timelines would be clarified in committee materials and the eventual bill language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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