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Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?
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Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

New York City public schools suffer from a variety of ills: Over 50 percent of high school students graduate non-college ready and unable to pass CUNY’s placement test, requiring remediation before they can begin earning credit. Over 80% of African-American 7th graders cannot do math at grade level. Even at the “best” General Ed  schools,… Continue reading Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?

Lean In. The Disruption Has Begun.
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Lean In. The Disruption Has Begun.

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

In Thursday’s post, I indicated that racism, bias, and discrimination are as much a part of our educational system in New York as they are in any other formal institution. Although some would like to quench the thirst of those — like me — who are eager to expose and eradicate the misery of this… Continue reading Lean In. The Disruption Has Begun.

The NYC DOE Has Racism Coursing Through Its Veins and Carranza Is Trying To Do Something About It. Why the Pushback?: Part 1.
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The NYC DOE Has Racism Coursing Through Its Veins and Carranza Is Trying To Do Something About It. Why the Pushback?: Part 1.

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

City kids are struggling with basic math and English — but a new Department of Education curricular initiative focuses instead on racial privilege and activism, The Post has learned. As soon as I read this opening sentence of this NY Post article, I was completely taken aback. Racial privilege? Activism? What — you mean activating… Continue reading The NYC DOE Has Racism Coursing Through Its Veins and Carranza Is Trying To Do Something About It. Why the Pushback?: Part 1.

At New Visions for Public Schools, It’s All About Continuous School Improvement. How’s That Going?
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At New Visions for Public Schools, It’s All About Continuous School Improvement. How’s That Going?

Laura WatersLeave a comment

At New Visions for Public Schools, it’s all about continuous school improvement. The organization supports a network of 70 district and 10 charter schools in New York City serving, all told, 40,000 students. (When you include individual district support, those numbers increase to 440 schools serving 230,000 students.) Jefferson Pestronk, Vice President of Strategy and… Continue reading At New Visions for Public Schools, It’s All About Continuous School Improvement. How’s That Going?

Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?
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Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

When I speak to community organizations about Getting Into NYC High Schools, I stress that the summer between your child’s 7th and 8th grade year is the critical time to research all of your HS options, so that you can start the process of applying in September. The best tool to begin your research used… Continue reading Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?

In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.
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In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.

Laura WatersLeave a comment

“What if kids who look like me didn’t have to work so hard to navigate an inequitable school system? What if adults were invested in making that navigation possible?” That’s Tracy Fray-Oliver, Associate Vice President of Bank Street Education Center (part of the Bank Street College of Education in New York City) speaking to a… Continue reading In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.

The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next
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The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next

Alina Adams1 Comment

Last week, I shared the stories of several New York City parents who, after a great deal of perseverance, hard work, and a whole lot of anxiety, were finally able to get their children accepted at the public schools of their choice. This week, in her own words, we’ve got the account of a mom… Continue reading The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next

I’m Afraid I Will Have To Abandon My Educational Journey: A Student Speaks.
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I’m Afraid I Will Have To Abandon My Educational Journey: A Student Speaks.

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

I met Xavier at the EDXEDNYC conference on my birthday last year. As the shirt he’s wearing in his photo illustrates, he was a student volunteer and his true spirit of service shone bright. He helped me set up for my conference, showed me where lunch was being held, and answered all of my questions.… Continue reading I’m Afraid I Will Have To Abandon My Educational Journey: A Student Speaks.

Ben Chapman Reflects on Eight Years Covering NYC Schools
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Ben Chapman Reflects on Eight Years Covering NYC Schools

nyschooltalkLeave a comment

This is a guest post by Alexander Russo,  a longtime education writer, editor, and author. He is a recipient of the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship at Columbia University, the author of Stray Dogs, Saints, and Saviors, a critically acclaimed book about the attempt to rescue a South Central Los Angeles high school, and the 2018… Continue reading Ben Chapman Reflects on Eight Years Covering NYC Schools

Happily Ever After In NYC: Parents Share School Choice Success Stories – And How They Made Them Happen
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Happily Ever After In NYC: Parents Share School Choice Success Stories – And How They Made Them Happen

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

I didn’t always write about education. Once upon a time, I wrote books – romances, mysteries, non-fiction. I also worked in soap operas – ABC Daytime, Procter & Gamble Productions, the Daytime Emmy Awards. But then I had children. And I applied those children to schools in New York City. And I found out how… Continue reading Happily Ever After In NYC: Parents Share School Choice Success Stories – And How They Made Them Happen