The 2024- 2025 school year is officially here - and so is year two of 'NYC Reads.'

"We've been hovering around very low proficiency...Children not being able to read, and we knew that in order to have greater outcomes for children, we had to drastically change the way we were doing things," says Danika Rux, deputy chancellor for the Division of School Leadership.

The Department of Education has done this by implementing 'Into Reading,' a new literacy program being rolled out in elementary schools around the city. The program is changing the way children learn to read through a more phonics-based approach.

"When a child doesn't know words, we are no longer saying 'guess' or 'look at the picture.' Now, students are actually learning letters and sound connections. They're tapping out sounds as they are reading. They're using magnetic letters, and they have boards and the put sounds together and take them a part to make sense of what they're reading," she said.

Since the beginning of last school year, 'Into Reading' has been adopted by 32 districts and over 800 schools. That means that 'NYC Reads' is currently reaching over 430,000 little New Yorkers.

"We saw kids talking to each other and using the protocols in class. It was really beautiful to see vocabulary walls in classrooms and kids with vocabulary sheets in their bags. And in one room I actually heard kids who has internalized the vocabulary, use it with their peers," said the chancellor.

According to New York City Public Schools, last year, 51% of New York City elementary school students were not yet reading proficiently.

Deputy Chancellor Danika Rux says she is happy to report that's changing.

"We are now challenging students because we have the right parts in place that ensure that, given access to high quality materials, they will outshine and they will do well," she said.

In the words of New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, '(O)nce you learn to read, you will be forever free.'