Update from the Executive Director:
Literacy and PreK Day
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Dear colleagues,
Spring is here, but as a lifelong New Yorker, this does not mean I put my snow shovel away just yet! Spring is also that wonderful time when end-of-year celebrations are planned, and students begin to think about the approach of Summer. As the year winds down, I have two timely updates I would like to share with you.
Prekindergarten to Grade 3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices and Attestation Survey
As part of the laws of 2024, Section 818, the Department was required to create a publication of research-based literacy instructional best practices. These P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices were presented statewide on January 7th, as part of a hybrid (virtual and in-person) webinar event that the Department held, which included 1,500 educators attending across the state. The P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices are available on the NYSED website, along with a Frequently Asked Questions document, with answers to questions asked during the webinar event. Per requests from the field, the Department has also created two additional P-3 Writing Best Practices, which support and align with the P-3 Reading Best Practices.
Per Education Law §818, on or before September 1st, 2025, every school district shall verify to the Commissioner that their curriculum and instructional practices in the subject of reading, in prekindergarten through grade three, aligns with all the elements of instructional best practices provided by the Commissioner as outlined in the P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices guide. The attestation process will be done through the Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the NYSED Business Portal. Instructions for accessing the survey are outlined in the Literacy Attestation Memo. As part of this process of literacy instructional review, it will be a good opportunity for districts to reflect on their current literacy practice to ensure the Science of Reading is central to student instruction. Any questions about the P-3 attestation process can be sent to the Early Learning mailbox at OEL@nysed.gov.
Navigating PreK Day 2025!
Our third annual Navigating PreK Day event will be held on May 8th at the NY State Museum in Albany, New York. This event, which is currently full, brings together Prekindergarten administrators and educators from across New York to share best practices and learn from each other. The event will include welcoming remarks from Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education, an update on UPK budget news, and breakout sessions from Office of Early Learning and Office of Cultural Education staff. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Erik.Sweet@nysed.gov or 518-474-5807.
Erik Sweet
Executive Director-Office of Early Learning
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Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners in PreK Webinar
In this webinar, participants had the opportunity to hear from New York State school districts, including East Ramapo CSD, Salamanca CSD, and Port Chester Rye UFSD. Districts shared practical applications and strategies that have been successful in supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLs). These districts highlighted effective methods for fostering language development and creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments. View the recorded webinar on the OEL Website here.
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Office of Early Learning Presents to the Field
On the professional learning day for educators within the Albany Diocese, a group of nearly 110 prekindergarten teachers gathered at St. Madeleine Sophie School and Parish for an hour-long session hosted by the Office of Early Learning. The presentation took place on March 19, 2025 and provided an opportunity to engage directly with prekindergarten educators, expanding the office's network and sharing a variety of relevant tools. Key resources introduced included the Science Everywhere Initiative, Literacy Resources, PreK to K Transition Resources, materials on Positive Behavior, Cultural Education, and CR-S in PreK guidance. This collaborative experience was a step forward for the Office of Early Learning, reinforcing its commitment to supporting all early childhood educators.
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On March 26, 2025 OEL Supervisor Tanya Amodio-Kovacs helped celebrate Multilingual Literacy Week at Albany International Academy, honoring the power of literacy and biliteracy. At the Academy, teachers and students embrace the joy of learning to read in multiple languages, fostering a love for diverse cultures. Tanya had the honor of being a mystery guest reader in two first-grade classrooms—one dual-language and one for newcomers—sharing stories and sparking curiosity about the world of words. “Bilingualism is a superpower,” she reminded the children. It’s always inspiring to see young learners navigate languages with such enthusiasm!
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At the Long Island Language Arts Council’s 2025 Spring Conference, which took place on Friday, March 28, 2025, Erik Sweet and Dr. Paulette Coppin provided an overview of NYSED literacy initiatives and resources for young learners. The presentation included an overview of the literacy briefs, and the Prekindergarten through 3rd grade Literacy Best Practices and the upcoming attestation process. Participants engaged in discussion and learned about the literacy resources the department has developed. Participants also discovered ways to align teaching with the research proven best practices.
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P-3 Math Resources
The Office of Early Learning has compiled a list of math resources to support P-3 educators in providing engaging, developmentally appropriate math instruction.
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Cultural Connections and Resource Kit for
P-3 Classrooms
The Office of Early Learning and the Office of Cultural Education are excited to announce the release of the Cultural Connections Framework and Resource Kit for P-3 classrooms. Cultural Connections is a framework and digital resource kit intended to enhance the ability of New York State classrooms to deeply engage students in STEAM and history through cultural experiences, including the arts, science, and social studies.
This resource recommends ways schools and collaborating partners can connect with cultural institutions for class trips and/or learning experiences that can be brought right into classrooms. Cultural Connections is organized by content area and features a variety of vetted resources. We encourage you to make rich connections with New York State by bringing cultural experiences into the lives of students. The Cultural Connections Framework and additional information regarding Cultural Education can be found on our Cultural Connections webpage.
| | | | Classroom Spotlight: Saugerties CSD | | |
In the picture, a young kindergarten student is carefully working on a craft project alongside a resident of a local assisted living facility. The resident, dressed in a cozy sweater, offers gentle guidance, showing the child how to use the pencil tool to scratch color into the paper.
Around them, the room is filled with warm light, and you can see another senior in the background engaged in their own activity, adding to the atmosphere of community and connection. The child and the resident share a bond of mutual respect and learning, with the resident offering a smile of encouragement.
This interaction illustrates the collaboration between the school and the community, where intergenerational learning is celebrated. The students benefit from the wisdom and experience of the seniors, while the residents enjoy the energy and creativity of the children, fostering a sense of purpose, connection, and joy for both generations.
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Positive Behavior in PreK Webinar Released
The Fostering Positive Behavior in PreK Webinar recording is now available on the Office of Early Learning website. You can view the recorded webinar here. This webinar focuses on strategies for addressing challenging behaviors in the classroom and developing an understanding of how to create a positive learning environment.
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Office of Early Learning 2024-2025 Webinar Series
The Office of Early Learning would like to remind you about our upcoming final webinar of the school year, Inclusion in PreK: Why it Matters. This session will take place on May 14th, 2025 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. This webinar will focus on creating inclusive classrooms and practical strategies for fostering a welcoming and supportive learning environment for every child. Register for the Inclusion in PreK webinar here.
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Questions?
The Office of Early Learning provides technical assistance to districts regarding Prekindergarten - Grade 3 instruction and best practices. Our office also answers questions regarding UPK funding and program implementation. You can contact us at oel@nysed.gov or (518) 474-5807.
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Erik Sweet, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning
Lori Smart, Director
Tanya Amodio-Kovacs, Supervisor
Paulette Coppin, Supervisor
Vicky Woods, Supervisor
Grace Bombard, James Bordis, Samantha Chobot,
Lauren Cosamano, Carly Feldman,
Meghan Hooley, Eric Feml-Nelsen, Jason Gish,
Tiffany Koo, Noelle Lake, Christine Lyons,
Terry Onofrio, Brandon Orszulak, Madison Ramnes,
Tina Rose-Turriglio, Christina Ryan,
Rachel Schlude, Michelle Sidoti,
Zak Snyder, Megan Tobiasen
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