NYC moves to clear controversial Absent Teacher Reserve, but it’s probably here to stay
From Chalkbeat: No, the controversial Absent Teacher Reserve isn’t going anywhere — despite recent headlines trumpeting its end. But the education department is taking aggressive new moves to significantly whittle down the reserve. Often referred to as the ATR, it is a costly pool of educators whose positions were eliminated when their schools lost enrollment […]
Education advocates discuss teacher shortage
The teacher shortage is here, and Chalkbeat has this article about it: Educators met on Friday to share their budget proposals for next year, but an issue facing schools for years to come took center stage. Over the next decade, the New York State Educational Conference Board said about 180,000 new teachers will be needed. […]
How this NYC special education teacher creates a supportive ‘village of love’ for students and families
Chalkbeat has this great teacher profile: Danielle Guggenheim missed her physical classroom so much, she took on a weekend volunteer shift at her neighborhood farmers market in the Bronx. Every Saturday this past year, weather permitting, Guggenheim has sat outside and read books aloud to any children that wanted to stop and listen while their […]
NYC to pay $500 to nearly 1,000 parents to address mental health needs at their schools
Chalkbeat has this story about a move that looks to support mental health in school communities: The education department is launching a training program next month for parents, paying them $500 to become “wellness ambassadors” addressing mental health needs in their school communities. The initiative will pay the stipend to parent leaders from roughly 950 […]
25,000 remote students sign up for in-person learning 2 days after opt-in window opens!
About 25,000 fully remote students have so far signed up to go back to classrooms for the remainder of this school year, just two days after New York City opened the opt-in period, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday. That number represents nearly 4% of the students who have chosen to learn from home full-time. […]
COVID SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS: ONE YEAR LATER
“A ‘daunting, dark and difficult’ time: How a Brooklyn school moved forward after losing its leader to COVID: High school student Etienne Musole remembered one of his first interactions with principal Dez-Ann Romain. She asked point blank whether he wanted to graduate. It was a high stakes question at a place like Brooklyn Democracy Academy, […]
NYC evaluation deal dials back teacher observations to account for pandemic
“NYC evaluation deal dials back teacher observations to account for pandemic” New York City officials are pressing forward with plans to evaluate educators this school year, after reaching a deal with union leaders that will reduce the minimum number of observations administrators must conduct and tweak the way student assessment data is used. The changes […]
New CDC guidance: Vaccinate teachers, but don’t wait to open schools
“Highly anticipated new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says schools don’t need to wait for staff to be vaccinated to reopen. Students should return full-time where spread is low or moderate, and with regular testing, the CDC says schools can open for some in-person instruction even when community spread is high. Masks and […]
