Biden taps education researcher known for work on school funding as economics adviser
President Joe Biden tapped education economist Kirabo Jackson to serve as a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers on Friday. Jackson is well-known in education research circles for his work finding that more money spent on public schools tends to boost student performance. His appointment suggests that Biden will continue to promote […]
Debate over NYC high school admissions heats up at parent meeting
Debate over how selective New York City high schools choose their students erupted Wednesday night, as members of a parent advisory group called on the city to adopt more stringent academic screening. The Citywide Council on High Schools, a group of parent representatives from across the five boroughs, considered a slate of recommendations on the […]
More students eating for free as growing number of states offer universal school meals
Before the pandemic, the district of 7,700 on California’s Central Coast served breakfast and lunch to around a quarter of its students each day. But that percentage shot up during the pandemic, when schools nationwide could give free meals to all kids. And it rose again last year, when California launched the nation’s first statewide […]
What research shows about universal school meals programs as more states adopt them
Statewide policies like these are new, but the practice of providing universal free meals isn’t. And researchers have been studying this for years. That means we have a good sense of what these state policies will mean for students, families, and schools. In short, research suggests that universal school meal programs accomplish their main goal: […]
NYC school bus strike could disrupt start of year, Chancellor Banks warns
A school bus driver strike could disrupt the beginning of the school year, Chancellor David Banks warned parent leaders this week. “We’re currently negotiating with the [Amalgamated Transit Union] around buses and there’s some real concerns around a potential bus strike,” Banks told members of his parent advisory council on Thursday. “Certainly hopeful that we […]
Here’s how NYC families can find free summer meal sites
For many New York City families, the summer months come with added stress, as kids are out of schools where free meals are provided each day. Across the five boroughs, free summer meal sites are working to alleviate that concern — and thanks to a texting service, families can quickly find the nearest site for […]
NYC’s 5th and 8th graders must take spring’s state tests on computers. Are schools ready?
New York City’s fifth and eighth graders will have to take this spring’s state tests — for English, math, and science — on computers, giving schools a nine-month runway to prepare 140,000 students to make the switch from pen and paper. A substantial amount of work may be ahead to ensure the transition goes smoothly. […]
College funds for NYC’s kindergartners: How to get and give seed money for higher education
In January, all New York City’s public school kindergartners will receive a seed investment of $100 in their city-sponsored college savings accounts. It’s the second year that 5-year-olds citywide will automatically get the NYC Scholarship Accounts — a giant experiment aiming to help thousands of families who historically have faced steep barriers to postsecondary education. […]
