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)

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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)

An Inconvenient Truth: The NYC Schools Math Problem Nobody Talks About
Accountability · achievement gap · admissions · educational equity · School Choice · school diversity · School Integration

An Inconvenient Truth: The NYC Schools Math Problem Nobody Talks About

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Last week we published a guest post by Tim DeRoche, author of A Fine Line: How Most American Kids Are Kept Out of the Best Public Schools, which asked the question: Do NYC School Zones Violate Federal Law? (Spoiler: He thinks they do.) DeRoche writes: Take a look, for example, at PS 8 Robert Fulton… Continue reading An Inconvenient Truth: The NYC Schools Math Problem Nobody Talks About

Do NYC School Zones Violate Federal Law?
admissions · educational equity · Finding the Right School · School Choice

Do NYC School Zones Violate Federal Law?

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(This is a guest post by Tim DeRoche, author of A Fine Line: How Most American Kids Are Kept Out of the Best Public Schools, published on the 66th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.)  The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted issues of educational access in our public schools, since there are stark… Continue reading Do NYC School Zones Violate Federal Law?

Navigating the New Reality: Child and Teen Caregiver Tips for Dealing with COVID-19
coronavirus · remote learning

Navigating the New Reality: Child and Teen Caregiver Tips for Dealing with COVID-19

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(This is a guest post by Dr. Joiselle Cunningham, CEO of Pathways to Creative Industries and Senior Advisor at HERE to HERE. Joiselle previously served in the Obama Administration and received her doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education. You can find resources to learn more about trauma informed practices on pathwaystocreativeindustries.com.) We all find… Continue reading Navigating the New Reality: Child and Teen Caregiver Tips for Dealing with COVID-19

The Latest Word on Lost Gifted & Talented Scores
admissions · DOE Fails · Gifted & Talented

The Latest Word on Lost Gifted & Talented Scores

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Every year, I brace myself. Every year, as soon as it’s time for the New York City Department of Education to take some kind of action, my email box instantly fills up with questions from confused and frustrated parents. This year, it was Thursday, April 23. That was the day the DOE was supposed to… Continue reading The Latest Word on Lost Gifted & Talented Scores

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)

How Upcoming Budget Cuts Might Affect Your Child’s School
Blog · DOE Fails · educational equity

How Upcoming Budget Cuts Might Affect Your Child’s School

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(The author of this guest post wishes to remain anonymous.) We have all been hearing about looming budget cuts for NYC public schools in the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2020.  We also know that September’s students will need a tremendous amount of support, whether they are in buildings or at home.  While it may… Continue reading How Upcoming Budget Cuts Might Affect Your Child’s School

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)

Zero Transparency & Communication: NYC Mom Rages Against New Middle School Waitlist
admissions · DOE Fails · Finding the Right School · School Choice · screened nyc schools

Zero Transparency & Communication: NYC Mom Rages Against New Middle School Waitlist

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(The author of this post wishes to remain anonymous.) Based on my recent experience with the middle school admission process, I can say that there are many issues with the new system.  First of all, removing the appeals process makes things worse and quite difficult. For example, my kid got a surprisingly low score on… Continue reading Zero Transparency & Communication: NYC Mom Rages Against New Middle School Waitlist