United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew warned the New York City Department of Education this month that the union may block the city’s revised reading curriculum unless additional reforms are added. The warning comes after a recent decline in citywide reading test scores, prompting the union to demand further changes before it supports the new materials.
The city launched a comprehensive reading‑instruction overhaul three years ago, a plan that was initially backed by the teachers union. That effort introduced new instructional strategies and resources aimed at improving literacy outcomes across elementary schools. At the time, the partnership between the Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers was described as collaborative.
Now, as the Department of Education prepares to roll out an updated version of the curriculum, the union says the falling test scores indicate that the earlier reforms have not produced the expected gains. Mulgrew and union officials have indicated that without added measures—such as additional professional development, adjustments to pacing guides, or other unspecified reforms—they will not endorse the revised program.
The Department of Education has not publicly detailed its response to the union’s stance, but the agency remains responsible for finalizing and distributing the curriculum to schools citywide. The potential for union opposition raises questions about the timeline for implementation and the ability of schools to adopt the new materials as planned.
Education analysts note that the disagreement underscores a growing tension between the city’s leadership and its largest teachers union. If the union follows through on its threat, the rollout could be delayed, affecting classrooms that are already preparing for the upcoming school year. Both parties have previously worked together on literacy initiatives, but the current impasse highlights the challenges of aligning policy changes with frontline educators’ expectations.