Long Island Literacy Coalition Marks a Year of Growth & Advocacy in 2025

Expands Community Engagement and Digital Tools for Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEBORAH AIELLO

JANUARY 7, 2026

The Long Island Literacy Coalition (LILC), a community-based advocacy group, celebrates a year of impactful progress in 2025. With significant growth in membership and expanded digital resources, the Coalition continues its mission to strengthen the literacy landscape of Long Island by empowering stakeholders with knowledge grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR).

Advocacy Amid Inconsistent Implementation of Evidence-Based Literacy

Over the past two years, the New York State Education Department has advised school districts to incorporate the Science of Reading into their instruction through a series of Literacy Briefs, Best Practices, and a mandated annual literacy attestation. However, local control has resulted in inconsistent adoption and gaps in implementation across districts.

“Advocating to our schools is essential because literacy outcomes depend on instructional choices,” said LILC co-founder Dr. Dinorah DellaCamera. “While many districts have begun incorporating key elements of the Science of Reading, too often evidence-based practices are used alongside discredited, less effective methods. Our students deserve instruction that fully aligns with decades of research—implemented consistently and without compromise.”

Education and Engagement Through Virtual Programming

In 2025, the Coalition hosted 11 virtual presentations designed to bridge scientific literacy research with practical strategies and advocacy tools. Topics included The Big Six Pillars of Literacy, Debunking the Top 10 Myths About the Science of Reading, a Summer Book Club on Explicit Instruction, and Influencing Literacy Legislation in New York State.

These sessions attracted stakeholders from across Long Island and beyond. Coalition co-founder Deborah Aiello noted, “We experienced remarkable community engagement, with meeting sign-ups from individuals connected to more than 50 Long Island school districts, along with an almost equal number of registrants from other parts of New York State.”

Broad and Growing Coalition Membership

This expanding membership reflects a shared commitment among families, educators, and advocates to advance evidence-based literacy instruction. In 2025, 41 percent of registrants identified as parents, while 33 percent were classroom teachers. The remaining members included private tutors, speech-language pathologists, advocates, school administrators, and board of education trustees and candidates.

“When we started this group, we anticipated that most members would be parents,” said co-founder Katia Fratticci, a Certified Dyslexia Interventionist. “Instead, our registration data show a truly diverse coalition. The strong participation from educators highlights how eager they are to learn about the Science of Reading and how it can benefit their students.”

Digital Expansion: Website and YouTube Launch

Another major milestone in 2025 was the launch of the Coalition’s official website, providing a central hub for its mission, advocacy initiatives, events, and curated literacy resources. To further expand access, LILC also launched a YouTube channel featuring highlights from its virtual presentations.

“These accomplishments reflect a commitment to transparency and public education,” Fratticci added. “By creating these spaces we aim to bring clear, research-aligned literacy information that would benefit every learner and advocacy tools directly to families, educators, and decision-makers across Long Island.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the Coalition moves into 2026, it remains focused on expanding advocacy efforts, increasing access to evidence-based literacy information, and strengthening collaboration across communities. The Coalition’s next virtual meeting, scheduled for Sunday, January 11, will focus on Influencing School Board Decisions Through Data and Strategic Outreach.