New York City
SPIRE for NYC Reads: Approved Intervention Driving Measurable Growth
NYC Reads is transforming literacy across New York City. With decades of expertise, EPS supports this mission with approved solutions like SPIRE and SPIRE Foundations: Sounds Sensible—programs proven to deliver measurable growth for all readers.
“I love how SPIRE’s scope and sequence meets students at their current ability and promotes progress... As an administrator, I value how the ready-to-use resources make it easy for teachers to provide effective interventions. I highly recommend SPIRE to teachers and administrators.”
— Maureen Massaria, Assistant Principal, P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo Queens, NYC
Together, We Can Drive Literacy Transformation
NYC Reads ensures every student builds strong foundational reading skills. Our solutions provide structured, evidence-based reading intervention solutions that meet DOE requirements, close literacy gaps, and accelerate student growth.
SPIRE 4th Edition
ESSA Level 1 | Grades PreK-12 | Tiers 2 & 3
Leverages science of reading principles to deliver intensive, structured, multisensory instruction for PreK–8+ nonreaders, striving readers, and students with dyslexia. With SPIRE Foundations: Sounds Sensible® as a foundational level, the program supports every stage of reading development.
Megawords
Tier 2 | Grades 4–12
Teaches grade 4–12 students the reading, spelling, and contextual uses of multisyllabic words through multisensory instruction and a systematic progression of skills. Includes a placement assessment, checklists, and progress-monitoring tools.
SPIRE Next
ESSA Level 4 | Tiers 2 & 3 | Grades 3–12
Strengthens the reading comprehension skills of grade 3–12 students and moves them toward grade-level using direct reading instruction and scaffolded practice. Three close-read opportunities within each lesson build student comprehension; literary or genre skills; and critical thinking.
SPIRE Literacy Intervention Pathway
Supporting NYC's Striving Readers From Foundational Skills Through Comprehension & Knowledge-Building
Tools and Training to Support NYC Educators
Driving Literacy Outcomes Through Effective Implementation
Implementation science offers a clearer view of what it takes for strong literacy programs to drive meaningful student outcomes.
SPIRE 4th Edition in Grades 3-5 Reading Growth from MOY to EOY
Explore a New York City case study showing significant reading growth for grades 3–5 students using SPIRE 4th Edition for Tier 3 intervention.
SPIRE 4th Edition in Grades 6–8 Reading Growth from MOY to EOY
See how SPIRE 4th Edition helped NYC students in grades 6–8 achieve 50% more reading growth than national norms after just six weeks of implementation.
NYC Reads Initiative
A citywide initiative launched in 2023 by the New York City Department of Education to help every student become a confident reader. Focused on phonics and support for students, families, and educators, it inspires a lifelong love of reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
EPS Learning helps schools advance the goals of NYC Reads with evidence-based reading instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. Programs like SPIRE 4th Edition, SPIRE Next, and Megawords are designed to complement adopted core curricula—strengthening structured literacy for students who need intensive, individualized support while aligning with New York State's emphasis on evidence-based reading instruction.
-
EPS provides intensive, structured literacy interventions built for students who require individualized support, including striving readers and students with disabilities. SPIRE 4th Edition delivers intensive, multisensory instruction across all five pillars of reading for grades PreK–8+; Megawords targets multisyllabic decoding and spelling for older readers in grades 4–12; and SPIRE Next strengthens reading comprehension in grades 3–12—together helping districts improve outcomes for students with persistent reading difficulties.
-
Yes! EPS special education and literacy products support students receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), delivering individualized, research-based instruction that targets IEP reading goals. SPIRE 4th Edition, built on the Orton-Gillingham approach, provides the systematic, multisensory instruction many students with disabilities need, while helping district teams support compliance with federal and state special education requirements.
-
EPS solutions are grounded in the Science of Reading and structured literacy, using explicit, multisensory instruction to build phonics, fluency, and comprehension. This approach supports all struggling readers—including students with dyslexia—who benefit from intensive, systematic reading intervention.
-
EPS programs include diagnostic assessments and progress-monitoring tools that support data-driven instruction and Special Education documentation. SPIRE 4th Edition provides placement and ongoing assessment tools to group students appropriately and track growth, and Megawords includes a placement assessment, checklists, and progress-monitoring tools—helping interventionists demonstrate the effectiveness of Tier 3 reading intervention over time.
-
EPS offers customized professional learning that helps interventionists and special education teachers implement SPIRE 4th Edition, SPIRE Next, and Megawords with fidelity. Drawing on decades of teaching experience and evidence-based practice, our Professional Learning team and curriculum specialists help districts meet the needs of diverse student populations and accelerate student achievement.
-
To purchase Sounds Sensible or SPIRE through FAMIS, please contact your local EPS Learning Account Executive. Your Account Executive can assist with product recommendations, pricing, and the FAMIS purchasing process.
