DOE Fails

Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails (Part 2)
DOE Fails · NYC Schools · student voices · UFT

Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails (Part 2)

Gregory WickhamLeave a comment

Students, organize! That’s all I ask, and all we need. Teachers and all other school staff have figured it out. The United Federation of Teachers has and enforces rules regarding how much time teachers can be asked to spend working, both in the classroom and outside of it. Imagine if students organized to support each… Continue reading Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails (Part 2)

Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails
DOE Fails · NYC Schools · student voices · UFT

Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails

Gregory WickhamLeave a comment

Every adult in a school building gets a union. Most are members of the United Federation of Teachers, and together they are incredibly powerful and effective. They negotiate all the rules. They can influence hiring and firing procedures, and everything about teaching. They have negotiated an incredible list of policies and rights for their members,… Continue reading Teachers Have a Union… Why Don’t Students: How They Can Help Each Other When the DOE Fails

COVID Rates Rise, Remote Learning Continues: How You Can Help
achievement gap · coronavirus · DOE Fails · educational equity · Hybrid Learning · online learning · remote learning · student voices

COVID Rates Rise, Remote Learning Continues: How You Can Help

Gregory WickhamLeave a comment

Most of NYC’s 1.1 million public school students are doing remote learning. Every student needs an internet-connected device. As of mid-October, 77,000 students were still missing devices necessary for distance learning. I don’t doubt that 77,000 devices can be distributed in ten weeks, but I do doubt that they have been. Mostly because thousands of… Continue reading COVID Rates Rise, Remote Learning Continues: How You Can Help

A Matter Of Trust: Why Some Families Have Lost All Faith In NYC Schools
coronavirus · DOE Fails · Hybrid Learning · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening · online learning · remote learning · Social-Emotional Learning

A Matter Of Trust: Why Some Families Have Lost All Faith In NYC Schools

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

On Thursday, December 10, 2020, almost exactly nine months after he first closed New York City public schools, Mayor Bill De Blasio triumphantly announced that he finally has a plan for dealing with the disruption and learning loss. He calls it the 2021 Student Achievement Plan! (But wasn’t the bulk of the disruption and learning… Continue reading A Matter Of Trust: Why Some Families Have Lost All Faith In NYC Schools

The Other Epidemic: Majority of American High School Seniors Aren’t Proficient at Reading Or Math
Accountability · achievement gap · DOE Fails · educational equity

The Other Epidemic: Majority of American High School Seniors Aren’t Proficient at Reading Or Math

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

The National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP) — nicknamed “America’s Report Card” — released their 12th grade scores at the end of October.  The horrifying results: Just 37% of 12th-graders reached or exceeded the academic preparedness benchmarks for both math and reading that would qualify them for entry-level college courses. (Ed. note: They are being… Continue reading The Other Epidemic: Majority of American High School Seniors Aren’t Proficient at Reading Or Math

Straight From the Trenches: Parents Report What Really Happened During NYC’s First Days Of School
achievement gap · Blog · coronavirus · DOE Fails · DOE incompetence · DOE Screw Ups · educational equity · Hybrid Learning · NYC Parent Voices · online learning · remote learning

Straight From the Trenches: Parents Report What Really Happened During NYC’s First Days Of School

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Even though they had six months to plan for re-opening New York City’s schools, Mayor Bill De Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza still insisted on doing everything at the last minute.  Schools were supposed to begin remote learning for all on Wednesday, September 16, and blended/hybrid for those who chose it on Monday, September 21. … Continue reading Straight From the Trenches: Parents Report What Really Happened During NYC’s First Days Of School

Lost Scores, Retests & The Current State of Gifted & Talented Programs in NYC Schools
admissions · Blog · coronavirus · DOE Fails · DOE incompetence · DOE Screw Ups · Gifted & Talented · NYC Parent Voices · NYC School Admissions · online learning · remote learning · School Waitlists

Lost Scores, Retests & The Current State of Gifted & Talented Programs in NYC Schools

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Last May, I reported on how the Department of Education lost dozens of Gifted & Talented tests — and waited almost four months to inform families (after weeks of telling them the tests weren’t lost, the parents must have done something wrong!). Retests were offered to those affected along with students new to New York… Continue reading Lost Scores, Retests & The Current State of Gifted & Talented Programs in NYC Schools

Parents’ Top 5 Concerns About NYC Schools 2020
coronavirus · DOE Fails · DOE incompetence · DOE Screw Ups · Hybrid Learning · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening

Parents’ Top 5 Concerns About NYC Schools 2020

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Fearing a teachers’ strike, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio pushed back public schools’ starting date from September 10 to September 16 for all remote learning, and September 21 for the hybrid model.  Since Hizzoner closed public school buildings on Monday, March 16, communication and information have been in painfully short supply. Families have… Continue reading Parents’ Top 5 Concerns About NYC Schools 2020

The (Last Minute) Plans of Mice and Men… and NYC Schools
Accountability · Blog · coronavirus · DOE Fails · DOE incompetence · Hybrid Learning · NYC Schools Reopening · online learning · remote learning · UFT

The (Last Minute) Plans of Mice and Men… and NYC Schools

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Mayor Bill De Blasio officially shut down New York City public schools as of Monday, March 16, 2020. Since then, he and School Chancellor Richard Carranza have had over five months to plan for how to reopen them in September. In July, they announced that families would have a choice: They could opt to continue… Continue reading The (Last Minute) Plans of Mice and Men… and NYC Schools

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