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Top Stories
To Cap, or Not to Cap
This is a pivotal year for NYC’s class size law. Here’s where things stand.
Chalkbeat, 9/4/2024
One of the most potent tools the Education Department has at its disposal to reduce class sizes across the city without hiring new teachers or building new facilities is redistributing enrollment by capping student numbers at oversubscribed schools and steering kids toward under-enrolled ones.
…“It’s something we are not eager to do unless we really need to,” Vadehra told parent leaders in June. Vadehra didn’t foreclose the possibility of admissions changes for the 2025-26 school year, however.
“This is something we are very much discussing internally,” she said. “We’re very aware that if we’re going to make any large scale shifts, that’s something families need to know this fall, and we expect any changes would happen in compliance with that timeline.”
Quality vs Quantity
NYC education advocates blast DOE for having ‘no plan’ for smaller class sizes
amNY, 9/11/2024
The city has five years to implement smaller classes in public schools, per the state law enacted in 2022, which was also part of the mayor’s win to keep control over city schools.
…Banks said hiring more teachers will be difficult, citing a national teacher shortage that has been reportedly due to issues ranging from low pay to job loss during the pandemic…
“The question becomes, do you lower your standards to get more teachers? Or how much more innovative can you get to bring on 10 to 12 thousand more teachers? It’s not an easy choice,” he said.
First Amendment Wins
Free-speech win: Courts slap down DOE in Maud Maron case
NY Post, 9/4/2024
In a win for free speech, a federal judge late Tuesday ordered Maud Maron immediately reinstated to Manhattan Community Education Council 2.
…The ruling also undoes Brooklyn CEC 14’s rule barring parents from criticizing the “competence or personal conduct” of individuals, including school officials and employees, at its board meetings or on social media.
Note that D-210 was the brainchild of de Blasio-era Chancellor Richard Carranza, who pushed through the rule to punish another parent activist, Yiatin Chu, who clashed with Carranza over the push to ax the Specialized High School Admissions Test.
Advocacy Corner
Upcoming Public Input Sessions on Regents Exams:
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New York City Blue Ribbon Commission Forums
Five (5) forums will be conducted virtually via Zoom, each targeting stakeholders in one of the 5 boroughs but open to stakeholders from across NYC.
Five (5) forums will be conducted virtually via Zoom, each targeting stakeholders in one of the 5 boroughs but open to stakeholders from across NYC.
Location: Bronx (Virtual)
Date/Time: September 30, 2024 at 5:00–7:00 PM
Registration Link: Forum (Bronx)
Contact: Sharon Rencher, SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
Location: Brooklyn (Virtual)
Date/Time: October 1, 2024 at 5:00-7:00 PM
Registration Link: Forum (Brooklyn)
Contact: Sharon Rencher, SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
Location: Manhattan (Virtual)
Date/Time: October 7, 2024 5:00-7:00 PM
Registration Link: Forum (Manhattan)
Contact: Sharon Rencher, SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
Location: Queens (Virtual)
Date/Time: October 8, 2024 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Registration Link: Forum (Queens)
Contact: Sharon Rencher, SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
Location: Staten Island (Virtual)
Date/Time: October 9, 2024 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Registration Link: Forum (Staten Island)
Contact: Sharon Rencher, SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
Elections Watch
NYC Council GOP leader Joe Borelli eyes mayoral run if Adams resigns
NY Post, 9/14/2024
With four candidates in the race (and counting), progressives look to ranked choice to defeat Eric Adams
City & State, 9/13/2024
NYC mayor’s race: Progressive Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos is the latest to challenge Eric Adams
QNS, 9/13/2024
Mulling political comeback, Cuomo faces Covid scrutiny
Politico, 9/10/2024
Assembly District 23 race heats up
Queens Chronicle, 8/1/2024
Other Headlines
What happens in Disney stays in Disney: NYC educrats took own kids to Magic Kingdom on trips meant for homeless students
NY Post, 9/15/2024
They often foot the bill. But, can parents ask for college grades?
USA Today, 9/15/2024
NYC students selling school-issued subway cards good for four free rides daily per year for up to $1,500: ‘A STEAL’
NY Post, 9/14/2024
Top Value Colleges
The Top U.S. Colleges Offering the Best Value for 2025
Wall Street Journal, 9/14/2024
For the second straight year, Baruch College offers students and families the best value of any university in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings.
All five of the City University of New York colleges included in this year’s rankings landed in the top 10 for value, including three more in the top five: No. 2 Hunter College, No. 4 City College and No. 5 Brooklyn College. Public colleges dominated the upper part of the list, holding 17 of the first 25 slots.
NYC new education board chair pick is same as old chair, despite effort to distance role from mayor
Chalkbeat, 9/13/2024
More Elite Prep Schools Are Offering a Free Ride for the Middle Class
Wall Street Journal, 9/12/2024
Cloudy Data
Experts Are Confused by Harvard’s Race Data. Here’s Why.
The Harvard Crimson, 9/12/2024
After the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action last summer, experts eagerly awaited Harvard’s demographic data for the Class of 2028 — hoping it would give a clear and unambiguous picture of the ruling’s impact on Harvard College’s admissions.
Except, it didn’t.
Harvard Enrolls Fewer Students Identifying as Black, More Don’t Disclose Race
Wall Street Journal, 9/11/2024
The Top U.S. Colleges That Make New Graduates Rich
Wall Street Journal, 9/9/2024
Report: Parental ‘Apathy’ Blamed for Rise in Chronic Absenteeism
The 74 Million, 9/9/2024
It’s All The Same
College Grades Have Become a Charade. It’s Time to Abolish Them.
Wall Street Journal, 9/9/2024
Grade inflation at American universities is out of control. The statistics speak for themselves. In 1950, the average GPA at Harvard was estimated at 2.6 out of 4. By 2003, it had risen to 3.4. Today, it stands at 3.8.
The more elite the college, the more lenient the standards. At Yale, for example, 80% of grades awarded in 2023 were As or A minuses. But the problem is also prevalent at less selective colleges. Across all four-year colleges in the U.S., the most commonly awarded grade is now an A.
The Battle to Ban Screens From School Now Includes Chromebooks and Tablets
Wall Street Journal, 9/7/2024
The 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S.: Princeton, Babson and Stanford Take the Top 3 Spots
Wall Street Journal, 9/7/2024
Mayor Adams: No schoolwide cellphone ban this year — possibly next September
Gothamist, 9/7/2024
New Montessori School
Can NYC’s first public Montessori school help keep families in the system? Officials hope so.
Chalkbeat, 9/5/2024
Principal Carol Mongiello greeted her students on Thursday morning, crouching under a rainbow balloon archway to dispense plastic sunglasses. The moment carried more weight than a typical first day.
Mongiello is spinning up the city’s first Montessori-inspired public school, one of nine new schools across the city opening this fall. Officials hope these programs will help attract families to a public school system that has seen enrollment plunge by 9% over the past five years. Several families said they leapt at the chance to send their kids to an alternative model and were less likely to consider private school, though the program has yet to fill all its kindergarten seats.
24 new schools to open in NYC, providing more than 11,000 children with fresh learning spaces
amNY, 9/4/2024
Nearly 4,000 ‘dangerous instruments’ seized at NYC public schools last year — including almost 300 weapons: sources
NY Post, 9/4/2024
Defiant Stats
In first Yale class since the end of affirmative action, Black and Latine enrollment share remains stable, while Asian American decreases
Yale News, 9/4/2024
The class of 2028, Yale’s first group of students admitted since the Supreme Court ended race-conscious college admissions, saw changes in its share of Asian American and white students compared to last year’s class, while Black and Latine enrollment remained largely the same.
…Yale’s report comes as some other colleges have seen drops in Black and Latine enrollment.
Nearly 80% of US teachers say youngsters less prepared to start school than several years ago: ‘Parenting means so much’
NY Post, 9/4/2024
Cooper Union surprises seniors by restoring free tuition
NY Daily News, 9/3/2024
Harvard’s Math Problem
Harvard Launches New Intro Math Course to Address Pandemic Learning Loss
The Harvard Crimson, 9/3/2024
The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.
The course, titled Math MA5, will run alongside two established math courses — Math MA and MB — with an expanded five-day schedule.
Thousands of NYC special ed students denied services days before school starts
NY Post, 8/31/2024
More bullying, teacher dissatisfaction with the chancellor: 5 takeaways from NYC’s 2024 school survey
Chalkbeat, 8/30/2024
Think Outside The Box
D.E.I. Is Not Working on College Campuses. We Need a New Approach.
NY Times, op-ed by Paul Brest and Emily J. Levine, 8/30/2024
With colleges and universities beginning a new academic year, we can expect more contentious debate over programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Progressives are doubling down on programs that teach students that they are either oppressed peoples or oppressors, while red states are closing campus D.E.I. programs altogether.
Supreme Court Declines to Restart Biden’s Latest Student Debt Relief Plan
Wall Street Journal, 8/28/2024
Ph.D.s Are Next in Fight Over Affirmative Action
Wall Street Journal, 8/28/2024
The Unequal Effects of School Closings
ProPublica, 8/26/2024
Disparate School Spending
Some NYC schools spending massive amounts on per-pupil budgets — but show dismal results
NY Post, 8/24/2024
Some New York City public schools spend up to three times as much per student than the citywide average — but show dismal results, The Post has found.
The average per-pupil budget at NYC public schools was $21,112 in fiscal year 2023-24, according to new reports posted by the city Department of Education, but dozens spend much more — up to $60,000-plus — while producing math and reading scores well below the citywide average, records show.
NYC Education Department developing tool to help applicants gauge high school admissions chances
Chalkbeat, 8/22/2024
NYC test scores: Math grades edging upward, but some students still struggle with reading
amNY, 8/21/2024
Does being a gifted kid make for a burned-out adulthood?
Vox, 8/14/2024