coronavirus

NYC Parents Wonder, “If We Leave Now, Will Our Kids Be Allowed To Return To Their Public Schools Later?”
coronavirus · NYC Kindergarten · NYC School Admissions · NYC Schools · School Waitlists

NYC Parents Wonder, “If We Leave Now, Will Our Kids Be Allowed To Return To Their Public Schools Later?”

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Since March of 2020, I have been forced to repeatedly apologize to my readers for not being able to personally answer all of your questions about what is happening (and what will happen) with New York City schools, but there are simply too many for me to keep up with. There is quite a bit… Continue reading NYC Parents Wonder, “If We Leave Now, Will Our Kids Be Allowed To Return To Their Public Schools Later?”

Remote Or Hybrid Instruction? Decisions Due This Week: What NYC Parents Are Planning!
coronavirus · DOE incompetence · Parents Helping Parents · remote learning

Remote Or Hybrid Instruction? Decisions Due This Week: What NYC Parents Are Planning!

Alina Adams1 Comment

Last week, New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza boasted how public school teachers have been receiving remote instruction training all summer long, and that his Department of Education has been strategizing to reopen schools safely in September since March. "A huge amount of effort has gone into getting our schools ready months and months… Continue reading Remote Or Hybrid Instruction? Decisions Due This Week: What NYC Parents Are Planning!

NYC Parents To Department of Ed: Who Will Teach My Children?
Blog · coronavirus · Hybrid Learning · NYC Schools · NYC Teacher · remote learning

NYC Parents To Department of Ed: Who Will Teach My Children?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

As soon as New York City public schools switched to remote learning in March 2020, the narrative was set: All teachers and administrators are heroes now. Any dissent, whether it came from run of the mill parents or a Pulitzer Prize-winning one was labeled: Teacher Bashing. Taking the name-calling in stride (not my first time… Continue reading NYC Parents To Department of Ed: Who Will Teach My Children?

NYC Department Of Education Decrees: Bad Education Not Good Enough Reason To Transfer Schools
coronavirus · DOE Fails · School Choice · transferring schools

NYC Department Of Education Decrees: Bad Education Not Good Enough Reason To Transfer Schools

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

In October of 2016, I reported that New York City had finally made it easier for students to transfer schools if the child “is not progressing or achieving academically or socially.” In July of 2020, I am sad to report, that permission has been halted. As of last week, the Department of Education’s page on… Continue reading NYC Department Of Education Decrees: Bad Education Not Good Enough Reason To Transfer Schools

It’s Not a Plot, It’s Incompetence: Is the NYC Department of Ed Deliberately Undermining Some Schools?
Blog · coronavirus · DOE Fails · Gifted & Talented · NYC School Admissions · specialized high schools

It’s Not a Plot, It’s Incompetence: Is the NYC Department of Ed Deliberately Undermining Some Schools?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Even before COVID-19 struck in earnest, the 2019-2020 school year seemed more riddled with screw ups than usual (and that’s saying something). There were the traditional Parent Portal malfunctions when it came to applying kids to every grade level, from Universal Pre-K through High School.  Mayor Bill De Blasio first refused to close schools in… Continue reading It’s Not a Plot, It’s Incompetence: Is the NYC Department of Ed Deliberately Undermining Some Schools?

NYC Parents & Teachers Reveal What Worked In Remote Learning and What You Should Demand For Your Child
coronavirus · educational equity · remote learning

NYC Parents & Teachers Reveal What Worked In Remote Learning and What You Should Demand For Your Child

Alina Adams1 Comment

In response to my June 15, 2020 post, Are All Teachers Equally Good? What Parents Can Learn From Watching Their Child’s Remote Instruction, a mom wrote:  I’d love a column on what is working with remote learning, meaning specific examples of what teachers are doing that they think is working great, as well as examples… Continue reading NYC Parents & Teachers Reveal What Worked In Remote Learning and What You Should Demand For Your Child

Are All Teachers Equally Good? What Parents Can Learn From Watching Their Child’s Remote Instruction
Accountability · Blog · coronavirus · educational equity · online learning · remote learning

Are All Teachers Equally Good? What Parents Can Learn From Watching Their Child’s Remote Instruction

Alina Adams2 Comments

When speaking about what was learned regarding teaching and studying in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Pondisco summarized the situation nicely in this tweet:  The lessons of the past few months are that everything works for someone, nothing works for everyone, and that the well-resourced and motivated student—or one with engaged and pushy parents—has… Continue reading Are All Teachers Equally Good? What Parents Can Learn From Watching Their Child’s Remote Instruction

Holding Out For a Hero: How You Can Help Heal NYC (School Edition)
coronavirus · educational equity · New York City · online learning · remote learning

Holding Out For a Hero: How You Can Help Heal NYC (School Edition)

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

War metaphors have been flying hot and heavy these past few months, as politicians, statesmen, and journalists search for ways to characterize our fight against COVID-19.  They leave ordinary people wondering how we can do our part. What’s COVID-19’s version of Rosie the Riveter, air-raid wardens, victory gardens, collecting scrap metal, rolling bandages, or driving… Continue reading Holding Out For a Hero: How You Can Help Heal NYC (School Edition)

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #2)
achievement gap · coronavirus · educational equity · online learning · remote learning · School Choice · school diversity

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #2)

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Last week I hammered home one of my favorite points: One educational size doesn’t fit all. This applies to traditional versus progressive learning, ethnocentric classrooms, acceleration, dual language programs, and more. While engaging in my favorite activity of advocating for giving every family what they want, and giving every student what they need, I asked… Continue reading Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #2)

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)
admissions · coronavirus · educational equity · Finding the Right School · online learning · remote learning · School Choice

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Ever since New York City School Chancellor Richard Carranza advised colleagues that one should “never waste a good crisis” in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, NYC parents have been in a panic. They assume he’ll use it as a backdoor method for ramming through all the changes he hasn’t been able to make via the… Continue reading Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)