NYC’s test opt-out rate doubled in the wake of the pandemic

The epicenter of New York’s test refusal movement has long been outside the five boroughs, taking root in whiter and more affluent school districts, particularly on Long Island. But since the pandemic, the share of families opting out of the annual state tests has more than doubled in New York City — even as the […]

560 NYC schools were affected by torrential downpour in September, report finds

About 560 New York City public schools were affected by torrential rainfall last September, far more than previously known, according to a report released this week by the city comptroller. As Tropical Storm Ophelia pelted some parts of the city with more than 8 inches of rain, public school buildings contended with leaky roofs and […]

As NYC’s education budget hits a fiscal cliff, Adams saves several school programs

New York City public schools would see its budget shrink by 2.4%, or $808 million, next fiscal year under a more detailed budget presented by Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday. The smaller budget is largely the result of expiring federal relief dollars, and Adams’ proposal saves a slew of programs that were on the chopping […]

Albany to send $35.9B to NY schools as negotiations over mayoral control continue, Hochul says

Gov. Kathy Hochul said a preliminary budget agreement would allocate roughly $35.9 billion to New York schools — a record high — as state lawmakers closed in on a deal on Monday. Though Hochul announced “the parameters of a conceptual agreement” on a $237 billion state budget, she said that Albany leaders had not yet […]

Don’t scale back sports access, advocates and students tell NYC

In late 2022, New York City’s Public Schools Athletic League made a bold promise: By the following spring, every public high school student would have access to all 25 sports the league offers. To reach that goal, officials proposed expanding a program called “individual access” that allows students without a particular sports team at their […]

A ‘universal FAFSA’ law could be adopted in New York as budget negotiations continue

T’Kai Harvey, a sophomore at the City University of New York’s Hunter College, didn’t see college as an option for most of her life. “I come from a very low-income community in the Bronx,” she said. “So I wasn’t going to go to college and financially burden my family.” But in her senior year of […]