When the City Council Education Committee held a hearinglast week on the implementation of the new school governance law, it was the first time that student views on the law were heard by the Council. High school senior Ben Shanahan and I testified on behalf on the New York City Student Union....
If you've got an 8th-grader looking for a high school -- or a 9th-grader looking to change high schools -- you may want to join the throngs at the citywide high school fair this weekend at Brooklyn Tech High School in Fort Greene. Yes, there will be a crowd, but it's a good opportunity to meet...
This fall, kindergarten gifted andtalented programs opened in 27 of the city's 32 districts. That's in addition to five programs which are open to students citywide. Students who score at the 97th percentile or above are eligible for citywide programs, but last year, because of the large number...
Is your 4-year-old gifted? Talented? If so, now is the time to start thinking about having him or her tested for the public school gifted and talented programs. This week the Department of Education posted the admissions timeline, as well as an updated list of schools that currently have G&T...
Should the Panel for Education Policy (PEP) be given final approval over whether charter schools can be sited in buildings with existing schools? I thought that was the intention of the state legislators who passed the law to renew mayoral control in August, but apparently the Department of...
For time immemorial, elementary school students have been pulled out of class for mandatory hearing tests -- often administered by school aides in noisy hallways, or school closets. No more. The Department of Education announced this month that it has done away with hearing screening in...
Author's Note: All quotes below about my son's program are are from a recent article, "The ASD Nest Program" in "Teaching Exceptional Children," a peer-reviewed journal in the special education world. On Sept. 9, the first day of school, Brooks became an official "Nester." What that means is...
Dear Judy, How many classes are teachers supposed to teach in a day? My daughter's class was merged with another. Now she is in a cramped room, with no desks, just chairs, and more than 30 kids. I attended curriculum night and when I asked why they went from three classes to two on her grade...
I admit it: last year, I ditched out early on our PTA meeting (my daughters were climbing on me). This year, I vowed not only to attend but to listen carefully until the bitter end -- which was more than an hour and a half. Many other parents seemed to be doing the same, even those toting...
This past spring, I wrote about Rupert Issacson, the man who wrote a book called [The Horse Boy](http://www.shopforcharitynow.com/books.shtml?churl=y&sfcid=afc-is-20) about healing his autistic son, Rowan, by taking him to Mongolia to ride horses and visit shamans. Although I expected to be...
In last week's poll, we asked if you would be attending the first PA/PTA meeting of the school year. Most parents -- 66% -- voted yes. Several respondents said that back-to-school night segued into the inaugural meeting. A Queens parent said that the first PA meeting is "crucial to attend" for...
<!--StartFragment-->Parents, teachers, facilities managers, and students can share ideas and information about schools going green on a new citywide website, Green Schools NYC. Green schools experts can post links, ideas, and information, while people looking for ideas and advice on...
Two weeks into the school year, some students are spending more hours on school buses than they do in some classes. Lindsey Christ, former Insideschools staffer and now NY1 education reporter, reported Monday that a Queens kindergartner commutes for two hours on a bus to get to a school located...
On the soccer field last weekend, the parent of an 8th-grader casually inquired what it takes to get into one of the city's best high schools. I wanted to laugh, but that wouldn't be fair, because as I started my own search with my son a year ago, I was equally curious and anxious. "So, do you...
Dear Judy What is the best way to find out about high school open houses and tours? Is there an updated list on Insideschools.org? How many schools should we visit? Are open houses really helpful? 8th-grade parent Dear 8th-grade parent: Attending an open house or tour should be a priority for...
What advice can you give me for my 8th-grade son to prepare for Ivy League schools? His reply is "I'm only in 8th grade." But I worry as he is not in honors classes and I think he should be. He did well last year in 7th grade but all of his teachers said he could do much better as he is very...
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) brought school children a step closer to enjoying produce from small, local farms in their cafeterias. The "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, announced last Tuesday, seeks to better nourish kids and support local farms by...
Looking at the results of last week's poll, we realize that we truly underestimated how much parents spend on school supplies! Seventy percent of 561 voters said they spend over $50 at the start of the year. Thanks for voting and for sharing your money-saving tips! One parent said that she was...
Last spring we reported that the Department of Education issued a ban on hiring new teachers due to budget cuts. Instead, principals were urged to hire teachers from the pool of excessed teachers -- those who lost their jobs due to schools closing, or staff cuts, but who continue to receive a...
Students are not the only ones wrangling with mathematics this year. Yesterday,The New York Times reported how principals have cut costs to meet their 5% slimmer school budgets, after the budget cuts announced last spring. According to the Times, principals across the city made most cuts by...
Today The New York Timesreports that 7th-graders who correctly answered only 44% of the questions on state math exams were rewarded with a passing grade. After similar reports published this summer, this latest analysis doesn't come as a surprise. According to the Times, the threshold for...
Voters were divided in our last poll about testing preschoolers for admissions to gifted and talented programs. One thing appeared to be clear, though: you're not happy with the status quo--only 2% of responses supported leaving the system as it is! We appreciate your feedback: "Fed Up Mom"...
Chancellor Klein announced yesterday that public input will help direct the allocation of this year's Contracts for Excellence funding. This should be a heads-up for parents and educators who have long been frustrated with the city's educational spending decisions. The Contracts for Excellence...
More than a year after dangerous levels of polychlorinated biphenyls were discovered in several New York schools, the caulk that contains the toxin still lines the windows and doors of some classrooms. A Spring 2008 investigation by the Daily News revealed high levels of PCBs--a toxin linked to...
Welcome back to school! Seniors will be starting to work on their college applications in a few weeks, and while this should not dominate the most important business of the day -- doing well in senior year -- it should not be left to the last moment. Here's the first question of the 2009-2010...
Dear Judy, My son is just starting kindergarten in a K-8 school. If he is unhappy in a K-8 school can he apply to middle school elsewhere? Or if you are unhappy in a 6-12 school can you apply to high school elsewhere? - Apprehensive Mom Dear Apprehensive Mom: The beauty of schools that...
Today Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez challenged Mayor Bloomberg's proclamation that the city will open 23 new school buildings, creating 13,000 new seats for students. Gonzalez says that some of the buildings touted as "newly-constructed" were, in fact, only renovated. More shocking still is...
Before the city released the 2008-2009 school progress reports Wednesday, the New York Post braced us for shockingly high results. But after the release, the Post had to update its statistics -- quite a bit. A whopping 97% of the city's elementary and middle schools received As and Bs, even...
TheNew York Post reports astonishing news today: more than 85% of elementary and middle schools earned an A or B on 2009 school "progress reports," which are expected to be released today. Even more surprising is that only two schools received Fs. Those stats have improved enormously in just...
Today, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a multi-faceted plan to combat swine flu this fall. With the first day of school in sight, protecting the city's students is a top priority, Bloomberg said. Swine flu resurfaced in parents' minds this summer when the city announced schools will remain open this...
In today's Daily News, new State Commissioner of Education, David Steiner, says our schools just need some common sense. He thinks our system is fraught with poor practices that defy logic - ranging from placing novice teachers in the most challenging classrooms to failing to reward the most...
My daughters have declared themselves ready to go back to school. It was too easy! I can't take any credit for the last couple of rainy, boring days of our vacation that convinced them. But, just because there's no apparent angst around here doesn't mean we'll be breezing gracefully through the...
The start of the school year can be a confusing time for all families,but especially for those who are new to the public school system or who have children with special needs. Enrollment centers opened today for all high school students new to New York City, as did special education enrollment...
Most respondents to last week's poll said that ARIS is a helpful tool, and only a few felt that it's a waste of the city's money. Unfortunately, a large chunk of voters didn't even know what ARIS is. Thanks for your thoughtful comments! On Wednesday, we highlighted criticism of the Department of...
GothamSchools led us toa post on The New York Times Bits Blog about a partnership between two innovative websites that allows you to turn unused gift cards into donations for schools. According to Plastic Jungle, which buys, sells and trades gift cards, the average American household has around...
New York City schools are featured in one chapter of best-selling author Po Bronson's latest book "Nurture Shock," says The New York Times. What landed our schools in the limelight? Bronson and co-author Ashley Merriman say the city has gotten testing for gifted programs all wrong, awarding a...
In July, we reported that, following a flood of parent complaints, the Department of Education would re-consider its ban on parent-funded assistants in schools. According to The New York Times, the DOE has reached an agreement with the teachers' union to allow the school aides to stay -- at...
A study released yesterday by NYU's Institute for Education and Social Policy takes a look at graduates of the city's controversial Leadership Academy, which offers educators an alternative route to becoming school principals. According to the study, graduates of the Leadership Academy's...
Although the first day of school is just two weeks away, some students, especially those new to the city, still don't know where they will be going to school on Sept. 9. Beginning next Monday, Aug. 31, the Department of Education will open special enrollment centers for high school students who...
Last week, we asked whether you are monitoring the number of hours your kids spend in front of the screen -- especially as this intense heat and humidity could be keeping them indoors. Nearly half of you said you limit the number of hours of computer and TV use per day or week. About a quarter of...
A new study shows that increasing numbers of parents nationwide plan to volunteer at their children's school this fall, citing the slow economy and budget cuts to schools as incentives. According to the study, byGreatSchools.net and the Harris Interactive research firm, nearly two-thirds of 1,086...
The New York Times reports today that charter school construction is providing a growing niche for the building and design industries in the New York City area. The article highlights a 54,000-square-foot project for the Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the South Bronx, which will house both...
Dear Judy, My daughter has been attending school in another state. Now she wants to finish back in the city. She will be going into 11th grade and she's a good student. What are her options? -Puzzled Mom Dear Puzzled Mom (and others who are new to the city): Eleventh grade is a tough time to...
For 30 years, the federal government has funded free meals for students during the summer months. How many meals are served in New York City, the largest school system in the country? Statistics are not yet available for this summer's program, which ends on Aug. 28, but last summer, the city...
Last week, we asked what you thought about programs that give students cash for good grades and test scores. Nearly 60% of you are opposed to the idea. Some of you, however, did think pay-for-performance initiatives had merit. Ben said that he was open to programs that produce positive results....
Though the city released the results of the ELA and math state exams this spring, the debate over the value of these standardized tests reignited this month. The latest argument on the table? The Daily News reported yesterday that, even with Bloomberg 'raising the bar' with his proposed promotion...
Charter schools seem unable to shake the perception that they don't enroll as many students with special needs - those who are disabled or who need help learning English, for example - as traditional schools. Yesterday's [Boston...
GothamSchools broke the news yesterday that the family of the late Mitchell Weiner, a Queens assistant principal who was the first city resident to die of swine flu, intends to file a multi-million dollar suit against the city for wrongful death and negligence. Today The New York Times provides...
Just when financially-strapped parents increasingly rely on free after school care for their children, many programs have become a casualty of school budget cuts. A venerable department store, new to Manhattan, has stepped into the breach to help provide funding for families in need of after...
Arts education has taken a backseat in New York City public schools for the past few years. With emphasis placed squarely on improving reading and math test scores, the arts are too often considered "extras." According to the non-profit Center for Arts Education, the city's public schools are not...
At a midtown Chase Bank this morning, star-shaped mylar balloons heralded successful high school students who earned hundreds of dollars for top marks on their May AP exams. The students are participants in the two-year-old Rewarding Achievement, or REACH, program, a New York City...
