After a spate of violence in NYC, here’s expert advice on how to talk with kids
From Chalkbeat In the terrifying moments after a gunman opened fire on a crowded subway train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on Wednesday, schools nearby immediately went into lockdown. Students sheltered in their classrooms, with news alerts pinging on cell phones and smart devices. When class let out, police lights still flickered in the streets. Among […]
Porter to step down as NYC school chancellor, clearing the way for Adams to make his pick
Meisha Porter will step down as New York City schools chancellor when Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure comes to a close at the end of the year, she announced Wednesday morning. Porter, who rose up through the ranks of city schools, stepped in to lead the nation’s largest school system in March following the sudden […]
The future of geographic screens for NYC’s high schools is up in the air amid concerns over diversity, commutes
From Chalkbeat: New York City’s high school system rests on a patchwork of choice and exclusivity. Thousands of students criss-cross the five boroughs each day on subways, buses, and ferries to get to schools that admit students from anywhere in the city. Other high schools give priority to teens based on their home address — […]
This NYC counselor is helping students work through COVID-era trauma
From Chalkbeak: After Randy Bowen lost three family members to COVID-19, he knew he needed to prioritize the activities that center him, such as meditating and riding his bike, so that he could show up for his students at Community Health Academy of the Heights. Bowen, a school counselor of 14 years and a certified […]
As quarantines send students home, what’s the plan to keep them learning?
From Chalkbeat: It was only her son’s third day of kindergarten when Sabrina Padgett got a call in late July that he’d been exposed to COVID and had to stay home for over a week. Soon after, that got extended when Padgett herself tested positive for COVID. Then her other two school-age children had to […]
My students thrived last year because they weren’t policed (The COVID era showed us why punitive policies don’t work
From Chalkbeat: A couple of years back, one of my students, a fifth grader, had an emotional outburst that led him to leave the classroom and run around the school. There was no plan in place for how we, as teachers and administrators, would handle a crisis like this. It ended with adults chasing the […]
After nixing gifted and talented test, New York City awards seats to 4-year-olds based on educator nominations
From Chalkbeat: Roughly one out of every five 4-year-olds who applied for kindergarten seats in New York City’s gifted and talented program received a spot, according to preliminary data the education department released Tuesday. The charged debate over these sought-after classes came to a head this year as officials were forced to abandon the test […]
NYC tells schools to expect an influx of summer students. With just days left, principals aren’t happy.
From Chalkbeat: Just days before summer school begins, city officials informed schools on Wednesday that they may need to accommodate an influx of students, frustrating principals who said the last-minute move could create a staffing crunch. Chancellor Meisha Porter informed principals that, “all schools should plan to serve all students interested in their site’s program,” […]
