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Articles by Amy Zimmer
How to vet NYC public schools like an education reporter: What parents should consider
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Unlike most other places in the nation, New York City families have to apply for schools at every level of their education, starting in kindergarten. The choices can be overwhelming.
Some NYC After-School Programs Are Flailing Several Weeks Into School Year
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Parents at several schools across New York City last spring were outraged when they lost beloved after-school providers in a contract overhaul overseen by the Department of Youth and Community Development. Many families asked: Why mess with programs their communities liked? Parents rallied, wrote letters and submitted petitions to keep the after-school programs they had come to rely on.
Parents predicted problems after NYC overhauled after-school contracts. They were right.
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Parents at several schools across New York City last spring were outraged when they lost beloved after-school providers in a contract overhaul overseen by the Department of Youth and Community Development. Many families asked: Why mess with programs their communities liked?
Nikole Hannah-Jones' essay on school integration sparks a reckoning for parents and education advocates
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat's valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. When education journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones documented her choice to enroll her daughter in a high-poverty, high-needs elementary school back in 2016, her viral New York Times essay helped spark a movement.
Mamdani names Alan Ong new chair of NYC school board
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Mayor Zohran Mamdani tapped a new chairperson for New York City’s school board, the volunteer body that votes on major policy decisions and contracts: Queens civic leader Alan Ong. Ong has been serving on the board since former Mayor Eric Adams appointed him in 2022. Mamdani reappointed him in July.
High school journalism expands in NYC, backed by new city funding
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. The nation’s media industry might be shrinking, but high school journalism is making a comeback in New York City. In the 2025-26 school year, 135 schools across the five boroughs offered at least one journalism course, up from about 90 the year before, according to newly released city data.
Hyde Park Herald: Sendhil Revuluri touts fiscal record, integrity in bid for school board president
Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools. Every weekday morning, Chalkbeat Chicago is bringing thousands of subscribers the news on local public schools and education policy that they need to start their day. Sign up for our free newsletter to join them. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. You may also receive occasional messages from sponsors.
1 in 3 NYC students chronically absent as rates remain stubbornly high
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City’s chronic absenteeism rate remains stubbornly high, with 1 in 3 students missing at least 10% of the 2025-26 school year, according to figures released Thursday. The rate remained unchanged from 2024-25 before and is markedly higher than pre-pandemic levels, when about 1 in 4 children were chronically absent.
Meet the 23-Year-Old Bed-Stuy Native Who Won a $200,000 David Prize for Teaching Kids Money Skills Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter When Aaliyah Duah was 17, she realized one of the major differences between an underserved community like Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, where she grew up, and more affluent ones was early access to information on how to manage money. In her public schools, she never learned about financial literacy — and had not heard the term — until she started going down a “rabbit hole” to educate herself on investing.
‘Pretty Poor Prognosis’: One-Third of NYC Students Are Chronically Absent, Data Shows
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. New York City’s chronic absenteeism rate remains stubbornly high, with 1 in 3 students missing at least 10% of the 2025-26 school year, according to figures released Thursday. The rate remained unchanged from 2024-25 before and is markedly higher than pre-pandemic levels, when about 1 in 4 children were chronically absent.
1 in 3 NYC students chronically absent as rates remain stubbornly high
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City’s chronic absenteeism rate remains stubbornly high, with 1 in 3 students missing at least 10% of the 2025-26 school year, according to figures released Thursday. The rate remained unchanged from 2024-25 before and is markedly higher than pre-pandemic levels, when about 1 in 4 children were chronically absent.
Meet the 23-year-old Bed-Stuy native who won a $200,000 David Prize for teaching kids money skills
How do teachers captivate their students? Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask great educators how they approach their jobs. When Aaliyah Duah was 17, she realized one of the major differences between an underserved community like Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, where she grew up, and more affluent ones was early access to information on how to manage money.
NYC back to school: New AI and screen time limits give parents relief
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. The school year started Thursday with a new policy restricting artificial intelligence and screen time for New York City’s youngest students, and many parents feel relieved.
25 years later, teaching 9/11: How NYC educators navigate the anniversary
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Twenty-five years ago, about 1 million New York City children were in school on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field. Today, some teachers as well as parents of children in the city’s public schools weren’t even born when the terrorist attacks occurred.
NYC student OMNY cards expired early, leaving families confused and paying out-of-pocket
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Many New York City students last week were caught off guard when they tried to use the OMNY cards they received last school year and found they no longer worked. Now, families are scratching their heads, asking: When do the student OMNY cards issued last school year expire? According to the Education Department’s website, it says: “Valid all year long.
Meet five of the 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year finalists
Sign up for Chalkbeat Colorado’s free daily newsletter to get the latest reporting from us, plus curated news from other Colorado outlets, delivered to your inbox. Colorado education officials have announced five of the eight finalists for Colorado’s teacher of the year award after winnowing down the 21 semifinalists announced in June.
7 key changes shaping NYC schools for the 2026-27 academic year
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. While all eyes this school year will be on New York City’s new artificial intelligence rules, that’s not the only new policy coming in 2026-27. When it comes to instruction, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has yet to change things up, essentially just continuing to expand his predecessor Eric Adams’ curriculum mandates.
7 key changes shaping NYC schools for the 2026-27 academic year
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NYC to Ban Student AI Tools in 2-K Through 8th Grade, Limit Classroom Screen Time Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter New York City is expected to release its school policy for artificial intelligence on Wednesday, with a ban on student-facing AI tools for 2-K through eighth grade, according to four people briefed on the plans and Education Department documents obtained by Chalkbeat.
NYC to Ban Student AI Tools in 2-K Through 8th Grade, Limit Classroom Screen Time
Taxes Now Trump Moves to Strip Tax Exemption From Schools That Aid Minority Students The New York Times - Andrew Duehren, Michael C. Bender • Now The Treasury Department released rules that would prevent schools with race-based programs from qualifying for tax-exempt status, a threat to both higher education and other private schools.
NYC to ban student AI tools in 2-K through 8th grade and limit classroom screen time
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York's free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC's public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City is expected to release its school policy for artificial intelligence on Wednesday, with a ban on student-facing AI tools for 2-K through eighth grade, according to four people briefed on the plans.
NYC to ban student AI tools in 2-K through 8th grade and limit classroom screen time
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City is expected to release its school policy for artificial intelligence on Wednesday, with a ban on student-facing AI tools for 2-K through eighth grade, according to four people briefed on the plans.
NYC Families Struggle With Late-Summer Childcare Due to Later School Year Start
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Students in Houston and Las Vegas returned to school on Aug. 10. In Los Angeles, kids went back on Aug. 12, and Miami’s students started the following day. Students returned Monday in Philadelphia, Chicago and Denver. But in New York City, students in the nation’s largest school district still have nearly three weeks before the first day of school.
NYC schools start Sept. 10, leaving parents scrambling for childcare
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Students in Houston and Las Vegas returned to school on Aug. 10. In Los Angeles, kids went back on Aug. 12, and Miami’s students started the following day. Students returned Monday in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver. But in New York City, students in the nation’s largest school district still have nearly three weeks before the first day of school.
NYC teachers: How are you teaching about 9/11 on its 25th anniversary?
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. As New York City memorializes the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, Chalkbeat wants to hear from teachers across the five boroughs: How do you teach about 9/11 in your classroom?
NYC teachers: How are you teaching about 9/11 on its 25th anniversary?
19 hours ago These three songs would remind Nick Offerman’s iconic Parks and Recreation character, Ron Swanson, why he’s proud to be an American. Undeniably, Nick Offerman’s iconic Parks and Recreation character, Ron Swanson, is already proud to be an American, though he likes reminders as to why. Famously, Ron …
Philadelphia’s school asbestos problem is already derailing back-to-school
Sign up for Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system. After a $17 million HVAC renovation and nearly two years of construction, Kensington High students and staff were hoping this school year would get off to a smooth start. Instead, they were hit with a familiar Philly school problem: asbestos, a toxic substance that can cause breathing problems and lung disease when it deteriorates and is inhaled.
Vaping, bathrooms, stress: What 357,000 NYC students revealed in revamped school survey
Medical Conditions 7 hours ago Teens may have found a new way to detect Lyme disease | 60 Minutes Archive CBS News • 7h The CDC says Lyme disease is emerging beyond the regions where it has historically been considered endemic. In 2025, 60 Minutes' Bill Whitaker … Social Security 9 hours ago Sanders proposes bill to stop Social Security benefit garnishment for unpaid student loans CNBC - Lorie Konish • 9h Sen.
Vaping, bathrooms, stress: What 357,000 NYC students revealed in revamped school survey Original
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. How often do students at your school vape? Are school bathrooms aligned with your gender identity? Is your school connecting your learning to the real world? These are among the new questions that New York City’s annual school survey now asks students.
UFT vs. Mamdani: Early ally threatens revolt on NYC Reads
Chalkbeat's journalism is made possible by our sponsors. Interested in becoming one? Reach out here. Good morning. It’s Amy with Chalkbeat New York. When Zohran Mamdani took office, the United Federation of Teachers was one of City Hall’s most powerful allies. That alliance, however, appears to be cracking.
How a Queens school transformed a local playground — and its students’ lives
Inglewood High’s new principal wants to ensure students feel connected to the school The new principal at Inglewood High School, knows firsthand that a student’s path to academic success can sometimes depend on their environment …
How a Queens school transformed a local playground — and its students’ lives
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. How do you make high school feel less like, well, school? And how do you get kids to show up, especially those at greatest risk of dropping out? A class devoted to community service projects at Voyages Prep in Elmhurst, Queens might offer some clues.
NYC revamps how schools handle school avoidance under legal agreement
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City’s Education Department is changing how it responds to students who are chronically absent due to school avoidance, according to an agreement officials signed last week with the legal team that brought a class action lawsuit over the issue.
Mamdani Appoints More Than a Dozen People to School Oversight Panel
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 13 people to the city’s school board Tuesday, cementing his control over the panel that votes on major policy changes, contracts and decisions to merge or close schools. The appointees to the Panel for Educational Policy bring a range of professional experience, including an environmental justice advocate and a budget official at the MTA.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani names 13 school board members, cementing control of NYC schools
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 13 people to the city’s school board Tuesday, cementing his control over the panel that votes on major policy changes, contracts, and decisions to merge or close schools. The appointees to the Panel for Educational Policy bring a range of professional experience, including an environmental justice advocate and a budget official at the MTA.
Mamdani taps World Cup fever to get NYC teens designing climate-friendly stadiums and soccer apps
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is trying to channel World Cup excitement into real-world careers: Hundreds of teens are designing stadiums of the future and soccer fields through a six-week competition run by New York City’s youth summer jobs program.
At NYC’s first all-virtual high school, this award-winning teacher knows it’s not ‘one-size-fits-all’
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Chemistry and earth science teacher Jude Julien helped launch New York City’s fully virtual high school four years ago, after more than two decades teaching in brick-and-mortar classrooms. Julien was already comfortable with online learning before schools went remote during the pandemic.
How NYC Families Can Use Summer EBT Benefits To Put Food on the Table
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Thousands of New York families might be leaving millions of dollars on the table when it comes to summer food benefits. To combat hunger while schools are closed, the state’s Summer EBT program sends eligible families $120 per child in food benefits.
NY families left $62 million in summer food benefits unspent last year. Here’s how to claim your $120 now.
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Thousands of New York families might be leaving millions of dollars on the table when it comes to summer food benefits. To combat hunger while schools are closed, the state’s Summer EBT program sends eligible families $120 per child in food benefits.
Wildfire smoke forces Summer Rising indoors as officials limit outdoor activities
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. New York City officials urged summer school programs to limit outdoor activity on Thursday as wildfire smoke wafted into the five boroughs. The Education Department’s guidance to principals also asked schools to reschedule outdoor trips.
NYC’s Elite Specialized High Schools Admit Disproportionately Few Black Students
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Of Staten Island Technical High School’s nearly 300 offers, just one went to a Black student. At Stuyvesant, that number was three — the lowest number since at least 2014, which is as far back as the city’s public data goes.
NYC’s Elite Specialized High Schools Admit Disproportionately Few Black Students
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Of Staten Island Technical High School’s nearly 300 offers, just one went to a Black student. At Stuyvesant, that number was three — the lowest number since at least 2014, which is as far back as the city’s public data goes.
Just 1 Black student gets into Staten Island Tech as racial gaps at specialized high schools persist Original
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Of Staten Island Technical High School’s nearly 300 offers, just one went to a Black student. At Stuyvesant, that number was three — the lowest number since at least 2014, which is as far back as the city’s public data goes.
Digital OMNY Cards Are on the Way for Some NYC Students
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Student OMNY cards are going digital this fall, at least for some New York City students, Chalkbeat has learned. New York City’s Education Department is launching a pilot program for virtual student OMNY cards at seven schools, officials confirmed on Monday. Officials declined to share which schools will be part of the initiative and said the participating schools were subject to change.
Tap your cellphone: NYC piloting digital student OMNY cards this fall for 7 schools
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Student OMNY cards are going digital this fall, at least for some New York City students, Chalkbeat has learned. New York City’s Education Department is launching a pilot program for virtual student OMNY cards at seven schools, officials confirmed on Monday.
This Brooklyn teacher connects chemistry to the real world — and just won $25,000 for it
How do teachers captivate their students? Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask great educators how they approach their jobs. Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Rayhan Ahmed, a Brooklyn high school chemistry and environmental science teacher, knows that the human brain is wired to care about people and their stories, not formulas and equations.
Most high schoolers no longer need to pass Regents to graduate. Schools are in the dark on what’s next.
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. By next fall, the majority of students in New York high schools will not be required to pass the state’s Regents exams to earn a diploma, a major shift that state officials hope will reshape teaching and learning.
Knicks ticker-tape parade is on a school day — and conflicts with Regents exams. Some families are angry.
by AMY ZIMMER, Chalkbeat The New York Knicks’ victory this weekend over the San Antonio Spurs, cementing their first NBA championship since 1973, brought joy to fans across the five boroughs. Shortly after their win, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will host a ticker-tape parade to honor the team.
NYC school budgets won’t face cuts next year (for now) despite falling enrollment
NYC schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels at Education Department’s Manhattan headquarters on March 5, 2026. (Credit: Alex Zimmerman/Chalkbeat) Despite shrinking enrollment, New York City schools will not see their initial budgets take a hit next school year. New York City principals are soon expected to receive their budgets for the 2026-27 school year, and schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels gave them a heads up that even if they’re projected to have fewer students, their budgets won’t drop.
NYC to overhaul attendance rules, requiring a ‘school avoidance liaison’ at every school
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. To address New York City’s stubbornly high rates of chronic absenteeism, the Education Department is proposing to overhaul its attendance regulations for the first time in nearly a decade.
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