Education has largely taken a back seat in New York City’s mayoral race, even though the next mayor will oversee the nation’s largest school system and its $40 billion budget. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has focused on supporting the city’s most vulnerable students and has called for ending mayoral control in favor of more democratic … Continue reading Where the NYC mayoral candidates stand on the future of education
Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students are suspended more as schools make the shift
Florida’s cellphone ban led to small improvements in attendance and test scores but also revealed serious racial and economic inequities as suspensions for Black students rose sharply in the first year. The study shows that policies meant to help students can still deepen inequality when they ignore existing disparities in schools. Real progress will come … Continue reading Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students are suspended more as schools make the shift
Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
A report from the Learning Policy Institute finds that while school shootings have prompted widespread interest in behavioral threat assessment (BTA) systems, physical security measures alone do little to prevent violence. When implemented with strong mental health supports and a positive school climate, BTAs can reduce suspensions, bullying, and disparities in discipline while promoting fairness … Continue reading Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
New York City’s worsening housing crisis has left more than 140,000 students without stable homes, deepening educational inequality and trapping families in cycles of hardship. Zohran Mamdani has pledged to confront this crisis head-on by expanding programs that connect homeless families with city support and by centering housing security as a core part of educational … Continue reading 140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
Mamdani Says He Would Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted Program for Early Grades
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, has announced his plan to phase out the city’s gifted and talented program for kindergarteners, reviving a proposal first floated under Mayor de Blasio. The program, which enrolls fewer than 5 percent of students in kindergarten, has long been criticized for deepening segregation and limiting … Continue reading Mamdani Says He Would Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted Program for Early Grades
Chancellor Avilés-Ramos Responds to Community Calls for CEC Election Reform
NEW YORK, N.Y. (October 1, 2025) — In response to NYC Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Avilés-Ramos’ announcement of a new tool and renewed efforts to reform the Community Education Council (CEC) election process, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “Chancellor Avilés-Ramos has shown a clear commitment to listening to … Continue reading Chancellor Avilés-Ramos Responds to Community Calls for CEC Election Reform
The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics
Success Academy and other charter networks pressured teachers, parents, and students to attend a pro-charter rally in New York City, even requiring staff to prove they had lobbied elected officials. Educators described an atmosphere of coercion and intimidation, where opting out could jeopardize their jobs. AQE’s Co-Executive Director Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari underscored that forcing families into … Continue reading The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics
Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!
Too many students in New York are losing classroom time to suspensions that do little to address behavior and instead push young people further to the margins. These policies hit hardest on Black and Latinx students, immigrant youth, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities – feeding the school-to-prison pipeline and deepening inequities. The Judith S. … Continue reading Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!
Policy to reduce suspensions for Buffalo’s youngest learners applauded by community advocates
Buffalo’s new suspension policy marks a major win for Black, brown, immigrant, disabled, and lower-income students, making it much harder to suspend children in pre-K through the third grade and requiring supportive interventions before suspension can even be considered. This change will help protect young learners from being pushed out of classrooms for developmentally normal … Continue reading Policy to reduce suspensions for Buffalo’s youngest learners applauded by community advocates
New Mexico is doing universal child care, when will New York?
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 9, 2025) — In response to New Mexico’s announcement that it will guarantee universal, no-cost child care for every family in the state, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “New Mexico has set a bold new standard for the nation by guaranteeing universal, no-cost child care … Continue reading New Mexico is doing universal child care, when will New York?