Adams moves to make Diwali a school holiday, but puts the onus on Albany
Mayor Eric Adams promised on Thursday to make Diwali a public school holiday next year for hundreds of thousands of New York City families observing the festival of light, but he’s asking state legislators to make it happen. “It is long overdue to say to our Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist students and community that we […]
Applying to NYC high school? Here’s what you need to know.
It’s not an easy time to be an eighth grader in New York City. Across the five boroughs, 12- and 13-year-olds are in the midst of high school admissions season with newly changed rules that sort kids into different “groups” based on their grades from last year. New York City has more than 400 public […]
New York City grapples with influx of new asylum-seeking students
As New York City grapples with how to better support the influx of students from asylum-seeking families hailing from South American countries, schools are looking for more bilingual educators and social workers. They’re also trying to get clothes and food to families in need. But getting there isn’t simple. At least 5,500 new students living […]
Experts Say Phonics Is One of Four Essential Factors for Reading Success
More than 200 of New York City’s elementary schools* lack direct phonics-based instruction, while more than half of students in grades 3 to 8 are not proficient readers, according to state tests.** To address this, the city will move towards a phonics-based approach for all elementary schools — a tall order when the debate over […]
Newark schools’ crossing guard shortage prompts search for solutions
As the school day ends, students at McKinley Elementary School in Newark’s North Ward rush for the exit. Some get into relatives’ cars and head home while other students start their journey home by crossing nearby 7th Avenue with the help of one crossing guard. With cars zooming by on the busy street at around […]
Advocates Push to Center Youth Mental Health as New School Year Begins
Advocates Push to Center Youth Mental Health as New School Year Begins As a new school year kicks off next week—the third since the pandemic began—local advocates and families are calling for New York lawmakers to prioritize mental health resources for youth, pointing to the impact of COVID-19 on a system they say was strained […]
NYC bringing teachers from the Dominican Republic to help teach Spanish-speaking students
There is a teacher shortage in New York City, but according to the schools chancellor, there’s a desperate need for bilingual educators to support students. Fourteen percent of New York City public school students are learning English as their second language. And according to the Department of Education, one and five students speak Spanish. P.S. […]
Caring for a beloved class pet taught me to care for myself, too
When I started middle school, there were a lot of things I didn’t like. I didn’t like the teachers. I didn’t like the building. Honestly, I didn’t even like the girl I saw in the mirror. She was quiet, self-conscious, and afraid of not fitting in. But I loved our class pets. There were snakes, […]
