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Articles by Amy Zimmer
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.
Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade is on a School Day — and Conflicts with Regents Exams. Some Families Are Angry. Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 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.
Knicks ticker-tape parade is on a school day — and conflicts with Regents exams. Some families are angry.
Ed Reed / Mayoral Photography Office 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.
Knicks ticker-tape parade is on a school day — and conflicts with Regents exams. Some families are angry.
9 hours ago Plus, the cage fight at the White House is happening, and the New York Knicks took down the San Antonio Spurs to conquer the basketball world—and bring joy to New York Iran threatened to walk out of talks with the U.S. and retaliate militarily after Israel struck the outskirts of Beirut, imperiling …
Knicks ticker-tape parade is on a school day — and conflicts with Regents exams. Some families are angry.
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. 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.
An NYC student was ashamed of his antisemitic thoughts. This fellowship helped him resist prejudice.
A Collector's Lawsuit Against Fanatics Has Been Officially Dismissed After months with the chance to refile their lawsuit against Fanatics, the plaintiffs in the case motioned for dismissal with prejudice. The antitrust …
An NYC student was ashamed of his antisemitic thoughts. This fellowship helped him resist prejudice.
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Can a program for New York City high school students designed to fight hate change hearts and minds? For Matthew Canzius, a sophomore at Hillcrest High School in Queens, the answer is yes. During his freshman year, he saw the fallout on social media from Israel’s bombardments of the Gaza strip, following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
Kevin Schnall to be named Gamecocks' head baseball coach
COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina is set to hire Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall as the program's next leader, according to multiple reports. Schnall was named Coastal Carolina's head coach in June 2024 and immediately guided the Chanticleers through one of the most successful seasons in program history. Coastal finished the year 56-13 overall, including a 26-4 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, setting a school record for wins.
Why NYC school budgets won’t be cut, at least for now, in cases of lower enrollment
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. 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 school budgets won’t face cuts next year (for now) despite falling enrollment
Disability Community 7 hours ago My Daughter Was Exhibiting Concerning Behaviors At School. No One Knew Why — Until Her Teacher Shared An Unexpected Observation. HuffPost - Lisa McCarty • 7h “‘I think there’s something going on with Ella,’ she said gently. My stomach dropped, as I’d had my own suspicions for years.” In the Fall of 2022, I stood barefoot on my deck, phone in my ear, brown leaves gathered around my feet, listening to my daughter’s fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Barlow. “I think …
NYC school budgets won’t face cuts next year (for now) despite falling enrollment
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. 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 proposal would add younger students to school leadership teams — and pay them for it
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 elementary and middle school students may soon have a greater say in shaping their education by joining their school leadership teams — and earn $300 doing so.
New York teachers union calls for aggressive limits on AI and screens for youngest students
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. The tide is quickly turning against screens and artificial intelligence in schools — at least in New York state.
An upper Manhattan mom was tired of screen time. She convinced 38 schools to take a ‘screen break.’
From left to right, Caroline Jose, the P.S. 4 PTA president; Olympia Kazi, a P.S. 187 parent, and Rosanna Diaz, the P.S./I.S. 173 PTA president. The three presented this week on the "Screen Break" initiative to District 6's Presidents' Council, on which Jose and Diaz both serve. Credit: Courtesy of Olympia Kazi via Chalkbeat Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox.
In the AI era, NYC schools need a computer science reboot, this expert says
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. A decade ago, New York City officials promised that all schools would have access to “meaningful” computer science education by this school year. Computer Science for All, known as CS4All, also had particular equity goals of reaching girls and students of color.
An upper Manhattan mom was tired of screen time. She convinced 38 schools to take a ‘screen break.’
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Amid a growing backlash against screen time use in and out of school, one upper Manhattan mom is starting a week-long initiative to help parents and educators limit devices and educational technology in the classroom and at home.
NYC after-school contract shakeup sparks fury after beloved, long-term providers are ousted
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. A reshuffling of contracts for New York City’s sprawling free after-school program has separated some schools from beloved, longstanding providers, sparking fury from parents, program staffers, and school administrators.
NYC PTA funding inequities: See how much your school’s PTA raises
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 public school system has long been defined by inequities of concentrated wealth and poverty, and nowhere is that more pronounced than in parent-teacher association fundraising.
Mamdani expected to secure 2-year mayoral control extension and class-size delay in state budget
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 Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to win a two-year extension of mayoral control from state lawmakers as well as a delay in implementing the class size mandate as part of Albany’s final budget, according to multiple media reports Thursday. Mamdani had been lobbying alongside Gov.
The Bronx and Queens Get New Public Schools, Including One For Hip-Hop
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Five new schools are expected to open this fall in The Bronx and Queens: Two will exclusively serve students with significant disabilities, three will have an arts focus, and all promise to incorporate project-based learning. The new schools aim to ease overcrowding in neighborhoods that have historically been bursting at the seams, city officials said.
5 new public schools opening this fall in the Bronx and Queens
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. Five new schools are expected to open this fall in the Bronx and Queens: Two will exclusively serve students with significant disabilities, three will have an arts focus, and all promise to incorporate project-based learning. The new schools aim to ease overcrowding in neighborhoods that have historically been bursting at the seams, city officials said.
De laatste films & specials wekelijks in je mailbox?
Kijkwijzer 6 Eng Groftaalgebruik In de late jaren 90 verhuist de achtjarige Sasha (Eylul Guven), met haar Canadees-Hongaarse familie naar het idyllische Vancouver Island. Heldere luchten, eindeloze natuur en zorgeloze dagen aan het strand vormen het decor van haar jeugd. Ze speelt met haar broers en zussen, sluit voorzichtig vriendschappen en verkent de vrijheid van haar nieuwe thuis. Maar onder de oppervlakte is een onzichtbare dreiging voelbaar.
Tech Glitches Disrupt State Math Exams Across New York Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Students across New York were unable to log in to the digital platform for the state’s grades 3-8 math exam Wednesday morning, raising fresh questions about the transition to computer-based assessments. The New York State Education Department told schools they could pause or delay the math tests, officials confirmed.
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