Dyslexia and disability-focused school in Brooklyn to debut in September, as revealed by Mayor Adams to our outlet
Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy Opens Doors for Struggling Readers
A new public school, the Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy (CBLA), is set to open in Crown Heights' School District 17 for the 2025-2026 school year. This innovative institution is designed to support students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities, providing them with the targeted literacy instruction and specialized support they need for academic success.
The CBLA's admission criteria prioritize current students of M.S. 394, the school being phased out, and target students in grades 2 and 3 who struggle with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. This focus on young learners early in their education aims to better support literacy development.
The school's academic focus centers on small, focused classes with specialized literacy instruction tailored to the needs of students with dyslexia and related learning challenges. The goal is to prevent these students from falling behind by providing instruction suited to their unique learning profiles.
Mayor Eric Adams, who has personal experience with dyslexia, is leading this effort to ensure no student with learning disabilities is left behind. The school is located at 188 Rochester Ave., Crown Heights' School District 17.
The CBLA is part of a broader initiative that includes the expansion of NYC Reads and NYC Solves education programs this year. These initiatives have been credited for the improvements seen in the city's test scores, with an increase in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency of 7.2 points since 2024 and a 3.5-point increase in math scores.
The CBLA will offer around-the-clock intervention for students who need it, and classes will be small, around five to six students. The school will open next month, and admission is still open. More information can be found on the website bkliteracyacademy.org.
It's important to note that the city has announced that M.S. 394 will gradually close by 2027-2028. Nearly 150,000 school-age children from New York struggled with learning disabilities in 2023, making the CBLA a much-needed addition to the city's educational landscape.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Purpose | Support students with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities in literacy skills | | Admission Criteria | Priority for M.S. 394 students; serving Grades 2-3 students struggling with dyslexia | | Academic Focus | Small, specialized classes focusing on literacy intervention tailored for learning disabilities| | Location | 188 Rochester Ave., Crown Heights' School District 17 | | Intervention | Around-the-clock intervention for students who need it | | Class Size | Small classes with around five to six students | | Test Score Improvements | Increase in ELA proficiency of 7.2 points since 2024 and a 3.5-point increase in math scores | | Admission Threshold | Requires students to score below a specific threshold for admission | | Closure of M.S. 394 | Gradual closure by 2027-2028 |
The Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy (CBLA) is not only a new public school for struggling readers but also a beacon of hope for children with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities within the realm of health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development. By offering small, focused classes with specialized literacy instruction, the CBLA aims to foster mental-health and general-news related improvements in these students, preventing them from falling behind and fulfilling the vision of a more inclusive society. Moreover, the school's strategic location within Crown Heights' School District 17 and the continued expansion of NYC Reads and NYC Solves education programs signify a collective intention to redress the learning challenges faced by an estimated 150,000 school-age children in New York City. As such, politics plays a crucial role in enabling this transformative effort led by Mayor Eric Adams.
