NYC’s test opt-out rate doubled in the wake of the pandemic
The epicenter of New York’s test refusal movement has long been outside the five boroughs, taking root in whiter and more affluent school districts, particularly on Long Island. But since the pandemic, the share of families opting out of the annual state tests has more than doubled in New York City — even as the […]
560 NYC schools were affected by torrential downpour in September, report finds
About 560 New York City public schools were affected by torrential rainfall last September, far more than previously known, according to a report released this week by the city comptroller. As Tropical Storm Ophelia pelted some parts of the city with more than 8 inches of rain, public school buildings contended with leaky roofs and […]
Albany to send $35.9B to NY schools as negotiations over mayoral control continue, Hochul says
Gov. Kathy Hochul said a preliminary budget agreement would allocate roughly $35.9 billion to New York schools — a record high — as state lawmakers closed in on a deal on Monday. Though Hochul announced “the parameters of a conceptual agreement” on a $237 billion state budget, she said that Albany leaders had not yet […]
Don’t scale back sports access, advocates and students tell NYC
In late 2022, New York City’s Public Schools Athletic League made a bold promise: By the following spring, every public high school student would have access to all 25 sports the league offers. To reach that goal, officials proposed expanding a program called “individual access” that allows students without a particular sports team at their […]
A ‘universal FAFSA’ law could be adopted in New York as budget negotiations continue
T’Kai Harvey, a sophomore at the City University of New York’s Hunter College, didn’t see college as an option for most of her life. “I come from a very low-income community in the Bronx,” she said. “So I wasn’t going to go to college and financially burden my family.” But in her senior year of […]
Eric Adams commits $500 million to partially avert fiscal cliff for NYC schools
Mayor Eric Adams is cobbling together more than $500 million in city and state funding to plug a hole in the Education Department’s budget left by the federal COVID relief funding that’s expiring this year, he announced on Friday. The money will prop up a range of education programs that were set to be cut […]
Most NYC high schools lack newspapers. A new journalism curriculum could help change that.
Katelynn Seetaram, a junior at Pace High School in Manhattan, never had much interest in journalism. But when she was placed in a journalism class her freshman year, she was stunned at just how much the course could teach her. She learned to question narratives that spread on social media. She developed a stronger sense […]
City Council calls for reversals of cuts to early childhood programs, more money for school food
New York City Council members unveiled their response to Mayor Eric Adams’ budget proposal on Monday, calling on the city to reverse recent budget cuts and provide millions of dollars in additional funding for school food, early childhood education, and other programs. Adams’ preliminary city budget cut about $100 million in funding from the city’s schools in […]
