We’ve mostly criticized NYC schools chancellor Joel Klein in the past. We’re not enthusiastic about much that he’s done. But he just announced a limited pilot program to improve reading at 10 of NYC’s failing schools. CC board co-chairman Diane Ravitch discusses the program in today’s New York Post. The program, which was developed by the Core Knowledge Foundation, stresses phonics along with students’ need to have broad content knowledge of the liberal arts and sciences. This is the sermon we’ve been preaching all along–that students can only learn to read and read better when they know something. We’re glad Joel Klein agrees, and hope that students at far more than just 10 of NYC’s schools will soon benefit.