S 6400: Requires the commissioner of education to establish and enforce rules and regulations to incorporate at least a three credit course devoted to the instructional techniques necessary for effective literacy instruction which shall include delivering structured, systematic, explicit, evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading for prospective teachers.
What S 6400 does, verified August 18, 2026
The bill aims to improve literacy instruction in teacher education programs by requiring institutions of higher education to incorporate evidence-based approaches to reading instruction. These approaches, known as "structured literacy," include methods such as delivering structured, systematic, and explicit instruction aligned with the science of reading. The bill mandates that at least three credits of the six required literacy courses in accredited college of education programs cover these techniques. This change is expected to enhance the preparation of teachers in effective literacy instruction methods.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 6400
- What is the current status of S 6400?
- As of August 18, 2026, S 6400 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION".
- Did S 6400 pass?
- Not yet. S 6400 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 6400, and where is it now?
- S 6400 was authored by Sen. Robert Jackson with 5 coauthors. Its committee of record is Senate Higher Education. It is filed under EDN, alongside 312 other New York EDN bills this session.
Author and sponsors
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| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| Mar. 28, 2025 | AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| Mar. 28, 2025 | PRINT NUMBER 6400A |
| Mar. 13, 2025 | REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, March 13, 2025 · 288 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6400 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. JACKSON, COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the incorpo- ration of structured, explicit, language-based multisensory approaches to literacy instruction into at least three credits of the six credits of literacy courses currently required for prospective teachers in accredited college of education programs The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 63 to read as follows: 3 63. The commissioner shall establish and enforce rules and regulations 4 requiring every institution of higher education that offers a graduate 5 or undergraduate degree or certification program in education or educa- 6 tional administration located within the state to incorporate at least a 7 three-credit course devoted to the instructional techniques necessary 8 for effective literacy instruction. Such course shall impart to prospec- 9 tive and current teachers language-based, effective methods of teaching 10 reading, which shall include instruction in delivering structured, 11 systematic, explicit, evidence-based instruction in reading, including 12 but not limited to those incorporating multisensory instruction, also 13 known as structured literacy, within the current required literacy 14 curriculum. 15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 16 it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04659-01-5
Text of S 6400 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions