Like Mr. Concepción, everyone runs at least one reading section, using an intensive phonics program.

Some phonics programs use low-interest reading material and too many boring worksheets.

Those "drawbacks", of course, are not unique to a phonics program.

But in the end, she said, it would probably make sense to have more than one phonics program.

Jolly Phonics is a systematic synthetic phonics programme designed to teach children to read and write.

The secret, Ms. Fata believes, is a phonics program designed for primary grade children.

"With strong classroom libraries as well as a phonics program in place, our literacy program goes beyond the N.Y.C. mandates."

Mr. Klein turned to Diana Lam, the deputy chancellor for teaching and learning, to talk about the phonics program.

In the phonics program, teachers snap or drum their desks as they recite set prompts - "Next word, what word?"

She said the administration was not pressing schools to adopt phonics programs, per se, so much as programs with proven track records, and would insist on strict accountability.