arts in schools · Educational Equity · NYC high school · NYC School Admissions · screened nyc schools · specialized high schools · student voices

NYC Student’s Take: Making Education in the Arts More Accessible

(This is a guest post by Vitória Lunardi de Castro, the founder of LaG Portfolio Mentors, a nonprofit program that provides free art portfolio preparation to aspiring students who want to attend New York City art high schools. Originally from Brazil, Vitoria immigrated to the United States at a young age and has since made… Continue reading NYC Student’s Take: Making Education in the Arts More Accessible

Accountability · achievement gap · Advanced Placement · arts in schools · Educational Equity · NYC high school · Parents Helping Parents

Is the ‘Fame’ School Gonna Live Forever? Not Under This Principal!

(The author of this guest post wishes to remain anonymous.) The “Fame” school is not “gonna live forever”; that is, not if the current principal has anything to say about it. Since her arrival at LaGuardia High School in September 2019, Principal Yeou-Jey Vasconcelos has been on an anti-academics, anti-merit crusade, despite the alleged “dual… Continue reading Is the ‘Fame’ School Gonna Live Forever? Not Under This Principal!

Accountability · admissions · arts in schools · Educational Equity · Gifted & Talented · NYC Parent Voices · NYC School Admissions · Parents Helping Parents · screened nyc schools

Less Than Ethical and Excludes Deserving Students: NYC Mom Files FOIL Request To Review Child’s Admission to Citywide Gifted School

(This is a guest post by Erma Pfeffer. She lives in New York City and is best known as a loving Mom and an Advocate for her two children, eight and nine years old. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her experiences and opinions regarding New York City’s public education system.) I submitted… Continue reading Less Than Ethical and Excludes Deserving Students: NYC Mom Files FOIL Request To Review Child’s Admission to Citywide Gifted School

admissions · arts in schools · Educational Equity · NYC high school · NYC School Admissions · screened nyc schools · specialized high schools

It Cost More To Get My Kids Into Public Art Than Specialized High School (Why Aren’t More People Upset About That?)

In a non-Covid year, New York City 8th graders (and a small number of 9th graders) take the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) and audition for arts high schools like LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra, Talent Unlimited, etc… in the fall. In a non-Covid year, only teens who relocated to NYC after the deadline are allowed… Continue reading It Cost More To Get My Kids Into Public Art Than Specialized High School (Why Aren’t More People Upset About That?)

arts in schools · NYC high school · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · Outstanding NYC Teachers

You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel, You Just Have to Learn to be a Great Driver: A Teacher’s Graduation Advice To Students

(This is a guest post by Joseph S. Lento, a licensed Teacher of Orchestral Music and School District Administration. In 2014, President Obama named him a National Teacher of Arts and Humanities. Joseph also has commendations from Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. In 1999, he was named NYC Public Schools Bronx County… Continue reading You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel, You Just Have to Learn to be a Great Driver: A Teacher’s Graduation Advice To Students

achievement gap · arts in schools · coronavirus · Educational Equity · Hybrid Learning · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening · Parents Helping Parents · School Budget · Social-Emotional Learning

Parents Weigh In On How NYC Schools Should Spend Our Federal Relief Money

Last week, Chalkbeat reported: New York City public schools are projected to receive $4.5 billion in federal coronavirus relief, bringing a significant financial boost as education officials plan for the fall… (B)ig questions remain, including how state and city officials will use this new infusion of cash — roughly $4,500 more per student — to… Continue reading Parents Weigh In On How NYC Schools Should Spend Our Federal Relief Money

arts in schools · Finding the Right School · screened nyc schools

Second Round Shenanigans: Hunter, Special Music School & Other NYC Schools’ Subjective Admissions

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he was running for President — as a Democrat, after being elected in NYC first as a Republican, then as an Independent — on Sunday, November 24th. As with other political candidates, I am only going to talk about his education policy record. Here are two major… Continue reading Second Round Shenanigans: Hunter, Special Music School & Other NYC Schools’ Subjective Admissions

arts in schools · Blog · Finding the Right School

Pathways to Creative Industries: Building Greater Access to the Arts in New York City Schools

(This is a guest post by Dr. Joiselle Cunningham, a senior advisor at HERE to HERE, CEO of Pathways to Creative Industries and lecturer at NYU. She previously led in the Obama Administration and received her doctorate from Harvard University. ) “I really love fashion and musical theater,” one student we’ll call Amy shared with… Continue reading Pathways to Creative Industries: Building Greater Access to the Arts in New York City Schools