Mayor Eric Adams is promising to pump millions of dollars into identifying and supporting students with dyslexia. His executive budget proposes $7.4 million for dyslexia screening and programs, including funding to help launch two new schools for students with reading disabilities in Harlem and the Bronx.

Adams has frequently invoked his own struggle with dyslexia, and increasing support for students with learning disabilities has been a consistent theme in his education agenda. He cited his experience again at his budget presentation in Brooklyn this week.

“I know from my own life the challenges that a learning disability creates for a child and how they can be overcome with early diagnosis and the right support,” he said.

The City Council will continue to negotiate with the administration over the financial plan, which is due by July 1st. Officials said Adams will be offering more details of his plan to help students with dyslexia soon.

Families and advocacy groups welcomed the news, but say that the city needs to commit to training all teachers across the system on strong, proven literacy strategies that benefit students with dyslexia and other reading challenges, such as training more teachers in evidence-based interventions. “We’re pleased the mayor is suggesting new investments in this area and want to see the city go further,” said Sarah Part, policy analyst at Advocates for Children of New York.

Adams has said identifying and addressing learning differences is not only a key plank of his education agenda, but essential to stopping “the school to prison pipeline.” A September 2021 survey from the Correctional Education Association found almost half of inmates had dyslexia. Many had dropped out of high school, and some left even earlier in middle school, according to the survey. Research also shows students with dyslexia are also at higher risk for severe anxiety and depression. Read the full story here