Last week, Insideschools spoke with Anna Commitante (head of DOE G+T), Elizabeth Sciabarra (OSEPO head) and Marty Barr (OSEPO's elementary-schools head) about gifted and talented programs, enrollment, and admissions policies. Here are highlights from our conversation; a longer article in the next...
Remember about a month ago, when we asked you for questions you'd like answered by the DOE? Well, the wheels grind slowly, even in midsummer, but grind they do: This afternoon, we're speaking with Anna Commitante (head ofGifted +Talentedfor the Department) and OSEPO headElizabeth Sciabarra....
by Liz Willen There's no way of getting around the constant search for schools in New York City -- from getting into pre-kindergarten (far more complicated than necessary this year) to finding a good neighborhood school to choosing a district with enough reasonable middle school choices to...
The end of July may seem like low season for high school, but parents of rising 8th graders with questions about small and charter high schools have a chance to learn more tomorrow evening, in a DOE workshop at Stuyvesant High School. Nearly two dozen new small high schools will open in...
District family advocates, positions newly created by the DOE's Office of Family Engagement and Advocacybefore the 2007-08 school year, will be fewer and farther between in 2008-09, according to a story in today's Post. Each district was to have at least two family advocates according to OFEA,...
Looks like the DOE has made room for pre-K siblingsof elementary school students. Extra paraprofessionals now treading water in the DOE 'excessed' pool will ease the class-size expansion to 20 from the legally mandated cap of 18. What's great news for families may be a mixed bag for those who...
Students without placements or unhappy with school assignments in Brooklyn can attend the DOE's new school fair today at Brooklyn's Borough Hallfrom 4-7 p.m. New middle and high schools with open seats in Brooklyn will attend the fair; students can apply on the spot. Although students citywide...
Another sweltering summer day, and the Daily News reports an extra measure of risk in NYC playgrounds-- no news at all to any parent whose toddler's hot-footed it from the sprinklers to the park bench. For those who can find a spot in the shade, summer reading, vetted by the DOE. The merits of...
More money woes this week: city funding for pre-K programs run by community groups was cut in half, leading to the overnight evaporation of about 300 seats. Yet Obama accepted the endorsement of the national teachers union(AFT) union, vowing his commitment to "quality, affordable early childhood...
Here's a paragraph from Chancellor Joel Klein's testimonyyesterday before the House panel on education; below it, some amplification on what the stats really mean, thanks to this handy PowerPointfrom the DOE. "In fourth-grade math, for example, the gap separating our African-American and white...
Last night's Town Hall in Brooklyn was the first of many, according to City Council member Bill deBlasio, that will address issues raised by mayoral control of the city's schools -- a state law that's slated to sunset in 2009. Most speakers described the erosion of public influence on public...
The DOE has set dates for a rapid second round of Contracts for Excellence (C4E) public hearings, where parents, community leaders and advocates can speak out on C4E funding, which by law must go to students with the greatest needs, particularly students living in poverty and English Language...
Quiet week in NYC? Head down to D.C.: Tomorrow morning, Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein will address a House panel on progress in urban education, along with D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Klein protegee D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and public school leaders from Chicago...
This morning Randi Weingarten, president of the UFT, was officially elected head of the national teacher’s union, the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten has wielded enormous influence over the past decade as head of the 200,000-member New York union, where she plans to remain, although...
The open-mic education Town Hall slated for this Wednesday in Brooklynwill include a number of city officials, according to Evan Stone, a public-school teacher in the Bronx who's 'summering' in Bill deBlasio's office. "We are expecting Senator Eric Adams, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, [City]...
Do-gooders are building 11 new playgrounds at Bronx elementary schools this summer, but parents of leaf-picking toddlers just might face summonses, like one unlucky mother in Chelsea. Five public school students, who grew up playing on city fields, were picked in the Major League Baseball draft...
Families of children with special needs face labyrinthine bureaucratic challenges that would strike terror into the hearts of most gen-ed parents; the process by which a child is evaluated and identified for an IEP (individualized education plan) can be overwhelming and intimidating, not to...
A second round of pre-K applicationsis underway for September 2008 placements. Any family may apply, according to the DOE, including those who've not applied before, those who applied earlier but weren't offered seats, and those who chose to decline the first-round offer. Here's a directory of...
While the first days of school may seem blissfully distant, there's no time like now for planning. Remember Aesop? Be the ant, not the grasshopper. The DOE's Office for Family Engagement and Advocacy has summer workshopsfor parents; most are on Saturdays to encourage working parents'...
Early round-up this week -- our attempt to get to the news before we get to the grill. Yesterday, we looked at No Child Left Behind and the second annual Learning Environment Survey results. Even though results were generally positive, three out of four students didn’t take an art class! Good...
Anyone else feel in the eye of a swirling PR-storm? The Fund for Public Schools(the private-money gathering arm of the DOE) has sponsored a swath of glossy ads showcasing progress in the public schools that would make the Mad Ave mavens plenty proud. See the ads here-- but if you watched a...
A new crack in the NCLB edifice has emerged, as 6 states have won the right to design their own means to achieve federally-mandated landmarks of academic progress. According to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, up to 10 states will pilot their own achievement and accountability programs; 17...
We're hoping to take advantage of summer to ask the DOE questions about some things that confused many readers this year, both to understand what happened and explore what's on deck for 2008-09. We want to know about middle-school admissions-- the calendar, the process, and how special-needs...
Ten Harlem middle schools will get new math and science programs this fall, thanks to a $17.9 million, five-year grant from the General Electric Foundation, announced just this afternoon by a sun-drenched Mayor Bloomberg, flanked by CEO of GE Jeffrey Immelt, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and...
School may be out, but there's plenty buzzing in the city press -- about education, budget cuts, and attendance vigilance gone awry. Plus, the Mayor's slated to make an education statement at 1 pm today; more news will follow as the day unfolds. In today's Times, Jennifer Medina celebrates a...
It was the last week of school, and the big story was the generally higher test scores, although the controversy continues over what the scores actually mean. Chancellor Klein was riding high on the test results, although the teachers slammed his performance in a UFT survey. New Orleans...
The City Council agreed with the mayor on a $59.1 billion budget last night that restores $129 million in proposed education cuts. The agreement comes days away from the July 1 deadline. The teacher’s union, which had been vocal in its opposition to proposed budget cuts, applauded the...
For me, the clearest indication that my son's childhood as he knew it was a thing of the past started with the cupcakes. At a middle school orientation two years ago, I was the ridiculously out-of-touch mother who raised my hand in a crowded gym and innocently asked if it was still okay to bring...
An ebullient Chancellor Klein quoted ol' Blue Eyes this morning -- "it was a very good year"-- and lauded the praises of students at Bronx Lab High School(whose graduates he addressed) as well as the city's teachers. Celebrating "the boldest changes yet" in terms of school reform, he cautioned...
If you can't make the rally this afternoonat City Hall (and even if you plan to attend), have a look at this parent-organized petition, asking the DOE to reconsider centralized Kindergarten admissions. Parents of preschoolers, this policy has the potential to directly affect your family's...
Persistent declines in level 4 middle school ELA scores and other hallmarks of flagging achievement from the top tier of New York City's students have prompted many commenters' heartfelt concern about the untoward effects of a test-driven education culture. The point's not lost on academe --...
Some folks may opt for picnics or the movies on the last day of school, Thursday June 26th. But if you, like thousands of city parents, worry about threatened school budget cuts, a late-afternoon visit to City Hall may be more your speed. Join Class Size Matters activists and others to protest...
Every summer since the mid-70s, the DOE's Summer Meals program has provided free breakfast and lunch for city youth at neighborhood schools and youth centers. This year, in light of rising food prices and ever-increasing economic pressures on New York City families, the free meals will be on...
The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) passed the executive budget last night. Only one member, Manhattan representative Patrick Sullivan, voted nay. Sullivan said he was concerned that more resources were devoted to testing and charter schools while the bread-and-butter, general education...
New York City and State's big gains in test scores lead the news at the Times and Daily News, and are featured at the Post and the Sun, which focuses on charter-school progress. But amid the celebratory, double-digit party (and leaving aside, for the moment, critical questions about score...
A little-noted irony of the DOE's many student incentives, the cell phones meant to reward middle schoolers -- the ad campaign just won a prizein chic Cannes, France -- are still 100% prohibited on school premises, by DOE regulation. So, figure this: Give the kids a phone, but ban its use. Or,...
It was a love-fest today at PS 178for New York City’s educational leadership. Ongoing battles over budget cuts were tabled (momentarily) as the Mayor, Chancellor Joel Klein, UFTpresident Randi Weingarten and CSA rep Ernie Logan lauded city children’s performance on the state ELA and Math tests,...
Scores for city schools have posted on the DOEwebsite. Look here for math scores; here for ELA. We're looking closely, too, and eager to hear what you think: surprised by the gains? skeptical or grateful? is test prep an issue in your child's school? what's your take? Let us hear from you.
At high noon today, the New York State Department of Educationwill present the 2007-08 English/Language Arts (ELA) and Math scores for students statewide, including New York City public school students. (We'll post a link when they go live, anticipated for noon.) Of course, the official New York...
The blog's hitting the big-time! This morning at 11 am, Insideschools.org'sProject Manager Pamela Wheaton will be on the air with WNYC's Brian Lehrer, DOE officials, and others to talk about the g+ t admissions process this year. Parents and commenters, your thoughts and questions made the...
It may be the last Monday of the school year, but the work of education goes on: This evening at 6 pm, the Panel for Education Policywill hold public hearings at MLK High School complex; sign up at 5:30 pm for a 2-minute speaking slot. Of the PEP's 13 members, 8 (including the Chancellor) are...
It's the last full Friday of the school year, and it seems that we can say with confidence, at long last, that all admissions placements (save for upper-grade g+t) have been made. The appeals cycle has begun, and although we're still waiting for word from the DOE on when, exactly, the g+t second...
Too busy worrying if you still have a job, your fifth grader got into middle school or the commute to Manhattan for a G&T program is plausible to read the paper? Don’t worry - we’ve flipped through the pages for you. Welcome to the first installment of our education and school news round-up....
by Liz Willen After two middle school searches in three years, I wish I could pretend to be the seasoned pro, generous with wisdom, advice and pitfalls to avoid. But even though we did our homework carefully, visited lots of schools in District 2, and listened to the words of teachers, guidance...
A famously outspoken lot, parents of g+t youngsters had a great deal to say in response to our question yesterday afternoon. Two themes seem clear from the comments which, along with the Times' article on waylaid hopes for diversityin the city's g+t classes, deserve exploration. First theme:...
Parents and special-ed committee members met with DOE officials tonight at PS 721, a District 75 school in the far reaches of Brooklyn, to ask about two-week delays in middle-school admissions for students with special needs. Parents spoke passionately of frustrations in getting information...
It's not just parents and students on tenterhooks waiting for school placements. This week is incredibly stressful for the faculty and staff at many city schools, too. As principals hand out next year's teaching assignments, some teachers are discovering that the proposed budget cuts have left...
Readers have commented at length on the vagaries and apparent inconsistencies of theg+t admissions process this year -- both citywide and district placements were delayed, couriered, mailed, faxed and variously communicated, to profoundly mixed results. How is registration going, for those who...
As the last gathering in the opening round of Contracts for Excellence public accountability hearings, tonight’s hearing in Queens could get heated. The final meeting will come 24 hours after a reportedly intense session in Manhattan, where, according to one attendee, protesters marched out of...
As families with special needs students continue to wait for their middle school placement letters, officials from the DOE are showing up at the monthly meeting of the citywide council on special education to discuss the delay.Both Ellen Newman, executive director for special education...
Parents have long felt that city schools are set up to serve the highest achievers -- via gifted and talented programs and the specialized high schools, for example -- and, particularly in the current Mayoral administration, to analyze and attempt to meet the needs of the city's neediest,...
