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Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled her 2026 State of the State plan to help New York kids thrive through back-to-basics, evidence-based learning, increased resources for teachers and teacher candidates, and a focus on healthy school environments. The plan centers on high-quality math and literacy instruction, a sustainable teacher pipeline focused on recruitment and retention, and expanded pathways to affordable degrees and career opportunity through SUNY and CUNY.
“As New York’s first mom Governor, I understand how important the quality and outcomes of schools can be in deciding where to raise a family,” Governor Hochul said. “My hope is for New York students to be the most academically-prepared in the country — that’s why we’re implementing back-to-basics evidence based learning models to get our kids up to speed in math and literacy and investing in pipeline programs to support and retain quality teachers. With these proposals, New York parents can rest assured that there is no better place for their children to learn and thrive than here in our state.”
Hochul’s plan builds on statewide shifts in literacy instruction aligned with evidence-based Science of Reading principles. The announcement says reading proficiency rates have already begun to increase as districts and educators align instruction with best practices.
Next, the Governor is proposing a similar “back-to-basics” approach for math. Her plan includes legislation requiring the State Education Department (SED) to provide instructional best practices to school districts in math, along with guidance and resources to help educators select and implement methodologies aligned with state standards and best practices.
The State would also direct SUNY and CUNY to develop micro-credentials in evidence-based math instruction and launch statewide professional learning opportunities in math instruction, including regional hub pilots in districts with lagging math performance.
The announcement says New York faces teacher diversity, recruitment, and retention challenges, and estimates the state will need as many as 180,000 new teachers over the next decade, including early childhood educators.
To address that, Hochul’s plan includes:
The announcement says New York’s fragmented data systems make it difficult to chart student trajectories from early intervention and education, through K–12 and postsecondary enrollment, to graduation and employment. The State has started building a secure statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) connecting records across early learning, K–12, postsecondary, and the workforce while protecting privacy.
This year, Hochul’s plan calls for additional investment to expand the system’s capacity at scale and the establishment of a multi-agency governance board to ensure statewide oversight with appropriate privacy safeguards.
Hochul’s plan includes initiatives aimed at expanding opportunity and leadership supports for students who face persistent barriers.
For Indigenous youth, the State will expand the Indigenous Youth Service Project to additional school districts. The announcement says the project began in LaFayette, Silver Creek, and Niagara-Wheatfield and piloted a service-learning approach grounded in community values that helped Indigenous youth build academic confidence, civic skills, and leadership capacity.
For Black and Latina girls, Hochul is reaffirming support for the Black Girls Mentoring Initiative and the Latina Mentoring Initiative (LMI), described as programs that help participants build professional and personal skills and confidence to become leaders among their peers.
Hochul’s plan also targets higher education affordability and workforce readiness through SUNY and CUNY initiatives designed to keep degrees accessible and connect students to career pathways.
Key actions include:
Hochul’s plan includes youth behavioral health initiatives intended to strengthen supports in school and community settings. The announcement lists multiple actions, including equipping all 10th grade students with Teen Mental Health First Aid training, supporting the mental wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth, expanding youth safe spaces by designating two additional community organizations, recognizing schools tackling young mental health, and opening up to 15 new youth clubhouses to support recovery for young people with substance use disorder. It also includes establishing a young adult recovery residence for individuals recovering from opioid addiction and scaling mental health supports for Indigenous youth.
On online safety, the announcement includes initiatives described as Safe By Design for safer digital environments for kids, ensuring fair play in online betting and limiting access for young people, and promoting responsible digital citizenship through distraction-free schools and student mental health.
Today’s proposal is framed as building on actions and investments from the last year, including:
What Is Hochul Proposing For Math Instruction In New York?
The plan proposes legislation requiring SED to provide instructional best practices for math, plus guidance and resources for districts to select and implement methodologies aligned with state standards and best practices. It also directs SUNY and CUNY to develop micro-credentials in evidence-based math instruction and launches statewide professional learning, including regional hub pilots in districts with lagging math performance.
What Is The Science Of Reading Plan In New York?
The announcement says districts have aligned literacy instruction with evidence-based methodologies grounded in Science of Reading principles, and that reading proficiency rates have already begun to increase. The plan also expands no-cost SUNY or CUNY Science of Reading microcredentials for current teachers and creates targeted support for high-need districts lagging in Science of Reading adoption.
What Is The Teacher Pipeline Plan In The 2026 Proposals?
The plan includes an accelerated pathway for career changers with pre-service work in high-need classrooms counting toward certification, P-TEACH programs that give high school students college credit toward education careers, enhancements to TeachNY to support more than 7,000 recruits over three years, and a Task Force coordinated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
What Is SUNY And CUNY Reconnect And How Is It Expanding?
SUNY and CUNY Reconnect, launched in 2025, provides adult learners the option to attend community college for free when pursuing certain high-demand fields. The plan expands eligible fields and includes adults pursuing a nursing degree even if they already earned a college degree in a different field.
What Is The Empire AI Student Challenge?
The plan establishes the inaugural Empire AI Student Challenge for grades K–12, where student groups with a sponsoring educator or expert identify a public problem and create a solution using AI, supported by training and on-site events at participating Empire AI member campuses including SUNY and CUNY.