NYC Just Reads

September 2, 2025

STARI Named a Tier II Literacy Intervention by NYCPS

We are proud to share that the New York City Public Schools has named STARI (Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention) one of its approved, research-backed Tier II literacy interventions for students in grades 6 and up.


This recognition underscores STARI’s proven impact in helping struggling adolescent readers build both skills and confidence. Developed through SERP’s long-standing research-practice partnerships, STARI addresses decoding, fluency, and comprehension while also engaging students with high-interest, discussion-rich texts.

Why STARI?

Why was STARI one of only a handful of programs that made the cut? 



  • STARI is engaging - students love it! Students who have struggled with reading during elementary school may think it’s boring or not for them. STARI builds core skills while engaging students with real books on topics that interest them.

  • STARI works! In multiple research studies, STARI students outperformed non-STARI students on standardized reading texts.


Supporting NYCPS Teachers

To support NYCPS’s adoption of STARI, SERP has partnered with AIS to offer professional learning at no cost to NYC teachers. Our goal is to ensure educators have the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to bring STARI to life in their classrooms. 


NYC teachers can sign up for STARI professional learning here: https://bit.ly/AISevents 


Schools can access STARI materials in multiple ways:


Looking Ahead

We look forward to partnering with NYC educators as they seek to raise achievement and agency for both teachers and students in secondary schools. At SERP, we believe all students deserve the support to become engaged—and engaging—readers.