NYC Parent Voices

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

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(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

Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?
Accountability · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC

Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?

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In response to recent state, local and school board elections where education finally(!) became a key voting issue and parents turned out in unprecedented droves to support their candidates, the Michigan Democratic Party tweeted out the following statement: This is not a winning strategy. And deciding that THIS is why parents are families are frustrated… Continue reading Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?

NYC Middle School Admissions 2022: Changes… and Hypocrisy
admissions · coronavirus · Educational Equity · Finding the Right School · Gifted & Talented · NYC middle school · NYC Parent Voices · NYC School Admissions · school diversity · School Integration · screened nyc schools

NYC Middle School Admissions 2022: Changes… and Hypocrisy

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In 2019, Brooklyn’s District 15 unscreened all of their middle schools, meaning incoming 6th graders couldn’t be assessed for admission via grades, test scores, portfolios or interviews. All schools now had to accept students exclusively by lottery. Yes, even the arts schools. Before any classes selected via this method had graduated, before any classes selected… Continue reading NYC Middle School Admissions 2022: Changes… and Hypocrisy

Back To School NYC: What Really Happened the First Week
coronavirus · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening · Parents Helping Parents · School Attendance Policy

Back To School NYC: What Really Happened the First Week

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

My daughter came home from her first day back to New York City public school on Monday, January 3, 2022 and announced, “There are so many teachers and kids out it’s like after The Snap.” Not exactly. While Thanos, of Marvel movie fame, snapped his fingers and made half the residents of the universe disappear,… Continue reading Back To School NYC: What Really Happened the First Week

NYC’s Top 5 Education Issues For 2022: According to Parents
admissions · Educational Equity · Gifted & Talented · NYC Election · NYC Kindergarten · NYC Parent Voices · NYC School Admissions · NYC Schools Reopening · remote learning

NYC’s Top 5 Education Issues For 2022: According to Parents

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2022 brings a new mayor to New York City, Eric Adams, and a new School Chancellor, David Banks. What are the most important issues facing NYC schools for 2022 according to parents? We count down our most popular posts of 2021 as an indicator: 5) Department of Ed Hard Sells BrilliantNYC: Are Parents Buying? Excerpt:… Continue reading NYC’s Top 5 Education Issues For 2022: According to Parents

I Don’t Know Where My Son Is Applying To College: Why That’s (Kind Of) OK With Me
admissions · homeschooling · NYC high school · NYC Parent Voices · Parents Helping Parents · STEM Education

I Don’t Know Where My Son Is Applying To College: Why That’s (Kind Of) OK With Me

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

When my oldest son was applying to college five years ago, he kept me posted every step of the way. Mostly because he kept asking for my debit card to pay various application fees. I also read many, many – many! – drafts of his essay, to the point where we still quote excerpts to… Continue reading I Don’t Know Where My Son Is Applying To College: Why That’s (Kind Of) OK With Me

Department of Ed Hard Sells BrilliantNYC: Are Parents Buying?
Educational Equity · Gifted & Talented · NYC Kindergarten · NYC Parent Voices · NYC School Admissions

Department of Ed Hard Sells BrilliantNYC: Are Parents Buying?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

In February of 2021, when New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio announced the end of elementary school Gifted & Talented programming, he also promised: We will spend the next year engaging communities around what kind of programming they would like to see that is more inclusive, enriching, and truly supports the needs of academically… Continue reading Department of Ed Hard Sells BrilliantNYC: Are Parents Buying?

5 Things I’m Thankful For This Year (NYC Schools Edition)
admissions · Finding the Right School · Gifted & Talented · homeschooling · NYC Election · NYC Parent Voices · School Choice

5 Things I’m Thankful For This Year (NYC Schools Edition)

Alina Adams1 Comment

With Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, it’s a logical time to think about what I’m thankful for this year when it comes to New York City schools. This is a personal list. I’m not going to get into the pros and cons of broader issues such as school reopenings, vaccine mandates, masking kids, or the… Continue reading 5 Things I’m Thankful For This Year (NYC Schools Edition)

NYC Parents Speak Up About Remote Learning on Election Day – And On All Future Snow Days
coronavirus · Educational Equity · Hybrid Learning · NYC Election · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools Reopening · Parents Helping Parents · remote learning

NYC Parents Speak Up About Remote Learning on Election Day – And On All Future Snow Days

Alina Adams1 Comment

November 2, 2021 was Election Day in New York City. Schools were closed, as many of them were being used as polling places. (However, many a parent did wonder why they weren’t allowed into their child’s school building due to Covid restrictions – but unvaccinated strangers were.) However, instead of the traditional day off, students… Continue reading NYC Parents Speak Up About Remote Learning on Election Day – And On All Future Snow Days

“Make Them Show You the Rule”… and Other Tips For Dealing With the NYC School System
Accountability · NYC high school · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · Parents Helping Parents

“Make Them Show You the Rule”… and Other Tips For Dealing With the NYC School System

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

My daughter took Algebra 1 in 8th grade. (This despite New York City remaining unsure whether that was a good or a bad thing.) She did not take the Algebra 1 Regents exam, however, due to the pandemic. Her school didn’t offer the exam, and no public school would allow her into the building to… Continue reading “Make Them Show You the Rule”… and Other Tips For Dealing With the NYC School System