A former tutor’s off-Broadway show tackles NYC’s high-stress high school admissions
New York City’s high-stakes high school admissions process is taking center stage in a new off-Broadway production. School Pictures, running through Dec. 3 at Playwrights Horizons theater, draws on playwright Milo Cramer’s experience as a tutor, which often entailed preparing kids for the Specialized High School Admissions Test that determines entry to eight coveted public […]
With influx of migrants, NYC school enrollment ticks up for first time in 8 years
The number of students attending New York City’s public schools increased for the first time in eight years, a sign that enrollment may be stabilizing in the wake of deep declines during the pandemic. About 915,000 children from 3-K to 12th grade enrolled this year, up 0.9% from last year, or roughly 8,000 additional students, […]
NYC launches free online therapy for teens
New York City teens now have access to free online therapy through a city program that launched Wednesday, officials said. City teens, ages 13-17, can text, call, or video chat with licensed therapists through the online platform Talkspace without providing payment, insurance information, or referrals, officials said. The teen telehealth initiative, which Mayor Eric Adams […]
The secret to good teaching? Teamwork.
Twelve years ago, when I left a career as a lawyer to become a history teacher, my vision of what a “good teacher” looked like was shaped in part by movies, such as “Stand and Deliver” and “To Sir, With Love,” which depict teachers who overcome institutional dysfunction to connect with students and inspire them […]
Modern Career and Technical Education is for everyone. Here’s why it should start in middle school.
When my grandfather entered the workforce with a seventh-grade education in the early twentieth century, he mined coal in western Pennsylvania, did factory work after serving in WWI, and retired as an City Councilman. My grandfather owned a home and a car and led a comfortable life. My father graduated high school toward the middle […]
Educators: Do you feel prepared for NYC’s new reading curriculum mandate?
A sweeping new curriculum mandate is rolling out to hundreds of New York City elementary schools this fall, requiring thousands of teachers to deploy new reading programs. The mandate has won praise from many literacy experts, as schools have long had freedom to use a wide range of materials — with uneven results. But they note its success […]
36% of NYC public school students were chronically absent last school year
Thirty-six percent of New York City public school students were chronically absent last school year, missing at least 10% of the school year, according to figures released by Education Department officials on Wednesday. That represents a modest improvement compared with the 2021-2022 school year, which saw chronic absenteeism exceed 40%, the highest rate in decades. Despite […]
5 things we’re watching this school year in NYC
More than 900,000 New York City public school students are slated to resume classes on Thursday with the customary mix of excitement, jitters, and joy. In recent years, one acute crisis after another has overshadowed the start of classes, from chaotic efforts to restart in-person classes during the height of the pandemic to a bruising battle over […]
