Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy (CBLA)

Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy is NYC’s second public school created specifically for students with dyslexia and other challenges in reading. It follows the model developed at South Bronx Literacy Academy, which opened in 2023 as the city’s first school of its kind.

Students receive extra support with reading, writing, spelling, and language as part of their school day. Teachers use a structured approach that helps students connect letters, sounds, and words.

Small classes with two teachers are designed to give students more support as they build reading skills. Students receive extra help from specialists, including speech and occupational therapy. 

The school was created through a partnership between NYC Public Schools and the Literacy Academy Collective, a nonprofit founded by parents of children with dyslexia and other learning differences.

Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy is adding grades over time. In fall 2026, the school will serve 2nd and 3rd graders and will grow to serve grades 2–8 by fall 2031. Families apply through MySchools. Students go through a screening process as part of admissions.

The school is new, so there is not yet enough data to measure student progress. (Lydie Raschka, official reports, July 2026)