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Software HS Principal Invests in School Culture

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By Yasmeen Khan

SchoolBook is hosting a forum on STEM education on Tuesday, May 21. Join us any way you can, in person, via our live webstream or on Twitter (hashtag #StemNYC.) To whet your appetite for the topic take a listen to our recent story about the city's efforts to seed science, technology, engineering and math programs in the school system. Read More »

Search for New York City teacher reports by school.

May 18, 8:36 AM
Judge Allows G&T Testing Suit to Proceed

By Beth Fertig

A lawsuit brought by four families argues that the city's methodology is flawed when it comes to determining which children are eligible for gifted and talented programs. Read More »
Viewpoint May 17, 4:00 AM
Bill Gates Should Not Micro-Manage Our Schools

By Prof. Nicholas Tampio

"In regards to education policy, Bill Gates ought to have a loud voice in his school district, but a quieter one in mine." So says a father and Fordham professor who argues the Common Core learning standards, while positive, should not be imposed uniformly upon all schools and teachers. Read More »
Most Viewed
  1. Judge Allows G&T Testing Suit to Proceed
  2. Bill Gates Should Not Micro-Manage Our Schools
  3. Controversy Brews at Teachers College
  4. The Special Education Problems We Aren't Solving
  5. Supreme Court Justice Urges Immigrant Parents to Help Children with School
  6. Judge Allows G&T Testing Suit to Proceed
  7. Do you think a longer school day is a good idea? Bad idea? Why?
  8. Inclusion: The Right Thing for All Students
  9. Should Cyberbullying Be a Crime?
  10. Bill Gates Should Not Micro-Manage Our Schools
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Viewpoint May 16, 4:00 AM
Controversy Brews at Teachers College

By Fred Smith

Some graduate students at Teachers College are offended by the decision to honor Chancellor Merryl Tisch at the school's graduation ceremony next week. To many of them, Tisch has supported policies antithetical to the Teachers College philosophy and they're considering ways to make their displeasure known. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What is Mayor Bloomberg's educational legacy?
25 Responses
Top Response By Vicki Zunitch
Converting childhood into a 10-hour-a-day job starting in kindergarten and making play a thing of the past for any child over age 3. Some of the ways he did this? … Read More »
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May 15, 5:17 PM
Supreme Court Justice Urges Immigrant Parents to Help Children with School

By Yasmeen Khan

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor told a large gathering of parents of English language learners to speak up and ask for help navigating the massive school system, and to remember this mantra: "I am not stupid. I am ignorant. Help me figure it out." Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Teacher satisfaction is at its lowest point in the last 25 years. Why? And what do you think would make teachers more satisfied?
3 Responses
Top Response By Claudette Gerdjunis
Teachers that got in the game to make a difference and help form small minds are hard pressed for time to do just that, create lessons and make learning fun … Read More »
May 15, 3:51 PM
Thompson Proposes Mid-Course Correction to Bloomberg's School Policies

By Beth Fertig

Former Comptroller Bill Thompson, one of the Democrats running for mayor, said mayoral control could be in jeopardy when it comes up for renewal if there are not "tweaks" made to Mayor Bloomberg's education reforms. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How can teens protect themselves from shaming and bullying on social media?
8 Responses
Top Response By Schoolbook Editors
Students on the school online newspaper for World Journalism Preparatory and their advisor shared their thoughts on this matter with SchoolBook. The Blazer can be found here: http://wjpsblazer.wordpress.com. Starr Sackstein, … Read More »
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Student Center May 15, 4:00 AM
Exploring Points Where Science Meets Life and Death Reality

By Jingwei Tu

"I have watched several people die in emergency rooms, and at times, I’ve wondered if the outcome could have been different if some slight detail had changed." Personal experience led this New York City student to build a computer program that has earned him a spot at the nation's top science competition underway this week in Phoenix, AZ. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How safe are the street intersections near your school?
1 Response
Top Response By Patricia Davies
A timely topic for our school (East Village Community) and the other 2 schools who share our building on 12th Street between Avenues B & C on Lower East Side. … Read More »
May 14, 10:00 AM
Chances of Admission to a Charter School Improving

By Beth Fertig

City students who apply to a charter school now have a 27 percent chance of getting in, as more of the privately managed public schools take root. But there's still a waiting list of more than 50,000 students. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Share a memory of a favorite teacher
24 Responses
Top Response By Jason Sovie
Ms.Jennifer Jeffers (now Mrs. Cavenaugh) at Ogdensburg Free Academy in Ogdensburg, NY was my saving grace in H.S. She was my music teacher starting in grade school. When I went … Read More »
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May 11, 3:31 PM
Mayoral Candidates Promise Teachers a New Direction

By Beth Fertig

Six of the candidates running for mayor addressed hundreds of teachers at a union-organized forum on Saturday. They all criticized aspects of Mayor Bloomberg's record, and said they would give more respect to teachers and families. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How are your children holding up during standardized testing?
32 Responses
Top Response By Kelvin Song
Why not just ask us directly? I am 14, and am currently in the Eye of the Storm, between the ELAs and Math tests. Feeling? "Flying Blind". With the pineapple … Read More »
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May 10, 5:04 PM
DOE Weighs Ending Pearson Contract After Another Scoring Error

By Yasmeen Khan

For the second time in three weeks, Pearson apologized for errors made when scoring the test for admission to the city's gifted and talented programs. The latest round of errors affects the eligibility of 146 test takers and changes the scores - but not the status - of 159 others. The deadline to apply to G&T programs has been extended, again. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Are you celebrating your high school choice, or lamenting the match process?
4 Responses
Top Response By Stephen Louie
Speaking as a product of the NYC school system from K through 12 then SUNY... I ask what's the problem with the demographics of these schools? The opportunity is there, … Read More »
May 09, 2:36 PM
Parents Press for Details on Faster PCB Removal

By Yasmeen Khan

After the city's law department said the D.O.E. would replace old light fixtures containing PCBs "well before" its original deadline of 2021, frustrated parents, advocates and elected officials said they want details. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Should teachers have to pass a test similar to a bar exam before they can teach?
14 Responses
Top Response By Vicki Zunitch
No, but principals, chancellors and mayors with control of school systems should. Read More »
May 09, 2:05 PM
City Defends Late Placements in Selective High Schools

By Reema Khrais

“If you didn’t apply for your job, would you get it?” one parent asked a D.O.E. official at a heated meeting about the students who have been placed in selective high schools without being screened. “We’re going to be receiving children who didn’t go through the process at all, while I’ve spent thousands of dollars on my daughter’s artistic development over the course of her life.” Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What are teenagers saying about the killing of Kimani Gray and the unrest that’s followed in Flatbush, Brooklyn?
1 Response
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Student Center May 09, 10:03 AM
Teens: Weed is Part of Life

By schoolbook

Listen to a story from two teenagers who offer an inside look at the current culture of marijuana, and hear their takeaway on what parents should think about if they find a joint in their kid's bedroom. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What does your perfect teacher evaluation system look like?
12 Responses
Top Response By Tom Griffith
Teachers need to learn what their rights are under the contract they have with the city. I have to admit I don't fully understand or appreciate this issue myself. However, … Read More »
Viewpoint May 09, 8:57 AM
It's All on the Label

By Jennifer Ochoa

Scoring the state tests is underway by teachers across the city. One teacher says she and her peers take the task seriously. Before scoring a test she always does one thing first: she turns over the booklet to read the mailing label. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What tips and strategies do you have for parent-teacher conferences?
2 Responses
Top Response By Vicki Zunitch
There are only 2 questions worth asking at a five-minute conference: if my child's education is so important, why does DOE give only 5 minutes to discuss it? And when … Read More »
May 08, 11:14 AM
Parent Council Elections to Proceed, For Now

By Beth Fertig

Elections for the city's parent councils may continue. A group of candidates unsuccessfully tried to persuade a judge to halt the process because they felt they weren't given a full opportunity to campaign before voting began on May 1. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Can charters and district schools learn to get along?
3 Responses
Top Response By Leonie Haimson
I wrote about this on our blog: NYC Public School Parents: Charter school expansion in NYC: common ground or battleground? http://shar.es/6kX5A Read More »
May 07, 9:52 PM
Burst Lightbulb in Harlem School Sends 11 to Hospital

By schoolbook

An old florescent light fixture broke, and the smoke not only forced the evacuation of the building but also re-ignited the fight over how to replace toxic fixtures in the schools as quickly as possible. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Should the DOE re-test Gifted and Talented fifth graders before they can move to a G&T middle school?
23 Responses
Top Response By Elli Ventouras Onaldin
Since the city has added elementary school g&t seats, they should add middle school g&t programs to accommodate the children that are in these programs without testing. Instead they are … Read More »
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May 07, 7:11 PM
Quinn Challenges Bloomberg to Expand G&T

By schoolbook

The City Council speaker and Democratic candidate for mayor said she wants to add more gifted and talented seats and find ways to enroll more Black and Latino students in the city's elite programs. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What's on your school's lunch tray? Is it healthier than it used to be - are the students eating it?
3 Responses
Top Response By Crystal Bueno
Our school offers a salad bar every day, and it is my 6-yr old's absolute favorite thing in the cafeteria. I pack a jelly sandwich on wheat bread for his … Read More »
May 07, 4:00 AM
Teachers: What's it Like Scoring the State Tests?

By Beth Fertig

For all the anxiety about testing and test results, the middle step of actually scoring the New York State tests, given to students in April, is getting scant attention. Yet city teachers are spending work hours grading the state tests, with a varying degree of training. One teacher said there's a "very complicated and lengthy rubric we were given to help us score" and another described debates among scorers about how to assess student writing. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How are you coping with the school bus strike? Share your commute stories here.
18 Responses
Top Response By Wendy Martin
I live in Queens, and my two children attend different schools about as far apart as you can get in this borough. My son is in a special program (which … Read More »
Viewpoint May 07, 4:00 AM
Thanks to My First Teachers

By Sasha Panaram

A New York City-educated daughter of teachers wants everyone to give thanks to a teacher today. After all, it's National Teacher's Day. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Should every school have an armed police officer or security guard?
14 Responses
Top Response By Cynthia Herzegovitch
So using this logic - we need to have an armed guard in every pre-school - day care, after care/school program - the Y's , Boys & Girls clubs (by … Read More »
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May 06, 4:00 AM
HS News Sites May Soon Publish Their Own Obits

By Katina Paron

Student newspapers that publish online are losing their hosting site. The move has left some local journalism advisers at a loss. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
In the Post-Sandy recovery, what is happening at your school? Share your stories.
13 Responses
Top Response By Raka Nuernberger
Luckily, our school structure was not damaged. However, many of our students live in Red Hook, and have been displaced by the storm or left without heat, hot water and … Read More »
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May 06, 4:00 AM
South Brooklyn HS Rivalry Takes the Mound

By Reema Khrais

Listen to a story that captures the sounds of spring, namely baseball, and the neighbors and brothers who compete on the field and "trash talk" between games. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How can teachers help their students cope with a troubled home life?
9 Responses
Top Response By Chris Piccigallo
I think these stories are often too common amoung America's youth because of the way our schools lack the necessary man power to get to know students. I think if … Read More »
May 03, 2:32 PM
Cathie Black Emails Reveal City Hall's Damage Control

By Beth Fertig

Emails between City Hall and Cathie Black, who Mayor Bloomberg nominated to replace Joel Klein as schools chancellor, show a mad scramble to rally celebrities to support the embattled nominee. A court ruling on Thursday forced the administration to release the emails to the public. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How did you handle holiday gifts for your children's teachers?
3 Responses
Top Response By Jonna Weppler
It is utterly unbelievable to me that there is a Chancellor's Regulation about this. If I might suggest to the Chancellor, he would much better serve the needs of the … Read More »
May 03, 11:28 AM
Parent Candidates Sue to Halt Council Elections

By Beth Fertig

Eight parents who are running to sit on local Community Education Councils are suing to stop the elections. They argue the process has not allowed them a fair chance to reach the select parents with the authority to vote for them. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Should algebra be mandatory?
26 Responses
Top Response By Stephenson Billings
I'm not surprised the New York Times would support "set theory" even though most academics discount it as a radical and untenable idea that promotes a specific political agenda. It's … Read More »
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May 03, 4:00 AM
Candidates Answer to Cobble Hill Parents

By Yasmeen Khan

Four democratic candidates for mayor, all with overlapping views on the New York City school system, took questions from parents at P.S. 29 Thursday night. The forum, moderated by Diane Ravitch, was a chance for candidates and parents alike to voice their frustration toward the current administration's policies. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
What advice do you have for 8th graders and their parents about choosing a high school?
23 Responses
Top Response By Roberta Ferdschneider
Unfortunately, middle school parents are stuck with the system as it now exists. So I have some practical suggestions. Keep looking for schools you and your kid could see him/her … Read More »
May 02, 7:49 PM
Bloomberg Defends Legacy with Final Budget

By Anna Sale and schoolbook

Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented a $69.8 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that contains about $800 million in one-time revenue and calls for reduced spending on education. Proposed cuts include $135 million for after-school and early childhood education programs and a reduction of 1,800 teaching positions through attrition over the next two years as a result of the city's failure to reach a deal with the unions on a teacher evaluation plan. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
How are you talking about the Sandy Hook shooting in classrooms?
2 Responses
Top Response By Daniela Grigorova
As any deed of a sick person this accident is not explainable, so with my 13 year old I just stated the facts and mentioned that unfortunately it could happen … Read More »
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May 02, 2:22 PM
Building Self-Esteem: Old Issue, New Movement

By Yasmeen Khan

A high school student is fighting against what some consider to be inevitable: teenage insecurity. She said she was so alarmed by the high rates of teen suicide, bullying and eating disorders among her peer group that she launched a campaign to fight the trend. Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
On the road to recovery: how are you talking about Sandy to your students and children?
Add a Response
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May 02, 5:00 AM
Bronx Students Take Stand Against Dangerous Texting

By Beth Fertig

Read More »
Question
Asked By SchoolBook Editors
Want to help schools affected by Sandy? Share with us what you need or where to volunteer.
6 Responses
Top Response By Patricia Willens
We got a great note from Laura Peynado, the principal at University Neighborhood Middle School. Thanks for sharing! On Tuesday, November 6th, the UNMS staff used the Chancellor's Development Day … Read More »
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May 01, 4:20 PM
Revised Results Show Rise in 'Gifted' Students

By Yasmeen Khan

The percentage of students who qualified for the city's gifted and talented programs increased this year, as did the number of students who scored in the 99th percentile. The Department of Education released new numbers following a scoring error by Pearson last month. Read More »
May 01, 1:00 PM
Divisions Persist in Debate Over E. Ramapo School Aid

By schoolbook

WNYC's Brian Lehrer spoke to the author of an article about tensions in the East Ramapo school district. Then he interviewed Rockland County legislator Aron Wieder, the former school board president, who responded to claims that members of the local Orthodox Jewish community are abusing their power on the school board to gut the public schools. Listen to both interviews and join the conversation. Read More »
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May 01, 9:22 AM
High School Athletes Open to 'Out' Teammates

By Fred Mogul

Teammates from the Norman Thomas High School baseball team reacted to news of the NBA's first openly gay athlete. "I believe a team is a family," said one player. "To each his own." Read More »
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Apr 30, 1:36 PM
Weingarten Calls for Moratorium on Common Core Consequences

By Beth Fertig

The president of the American Federation of Teachers came back home to New York to call for putting "a brake on the stakes." She criticized using new state test results before teachers are fully trained in standards called the Common Core, and curriculum is widely available. Read More »
Apr 30, 4:00 AM
Extended Hours Coming to 20 Middle Schools

By Reema Khrais

Sixth graders at still to be selected schools will stay an extra two and a half hours every day for extra work on literacy skills. Read More »
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Apr 29, 1:46 PM
L.I. School Re-Opens Six Months After Sandy

By Stephen Nessen

While all New York City school buildings damaged by Sandy are operational, one school just over city lines on Long Island took a little longer to re-open. Students returned to a renovated facility on Monday. Read More »
Apr 26, 2:16 PM
Task Force Tackles Queens Overcrowding

By Reema Khrais

Unhappy with the persistent overcrowding at two school districts in Queens, local leaders have convened a panel to propose solutions, such as taking a closer look at co-locations and district re-zoning. Read More »
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Apr 26, 12:18 PM
School Bus Issues Dog Special Ed Community

By Yasmeen Khan

Parents of students with special needs are still feeling burned by this year's bus strike, and by everyday issues related to school bus service. They got a chance Thursday night to raise questions on bus service and the rollout of special education reform to the schools chancellor. Read More »
Apr 25, 10:30 AM
Struggling Students Tend to Apply to Weaker High Schools

By Yasmeen Khan

Rising ninth graders tend to group themselves by academic performance on their high school applications, according to a new study. The findings also suggest that many students prefer high school close to home. Read More »
On WNYC Apr 25, 9:09 AM
Teachers Union Looking Forward to a "Friend" in Mayor's Office

By Patricia Willens

A series reported by Gotham Schools and the Hechinger Report offers context and analysis of the United Federation of Teachers, as its leaders face their own re-election prospects and the race for a new mayor. Hear our interview with one of the editors of the series. Read More »
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Apr 24, 2:00 PM
Extra Help for Middle Schools Gains Traction

By Reema Khrais

The Department of Education selected 49 under-performing middle schools to receive both literacy training and thousands of dollars in materials. The goal? Bring students up to grade level in reading. While the program generally gets good marks, advocates say the effort is too limited, and comes too late in the Bloomberg tenure. Read More »
Apr 23, 5:35 PM
Autism Numbers Spike in Special Ed District

By Beth Fertig

The number of children with autism increased by 10 percent this year in District 75, the city's program for children with the most serious needs, according to preliminary data obtained by Schoolbook. Read More »
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Apr 23, 2:54 PM
Teacher Scoring of English Exams Underway

By Yasmeen Khan

The scoring of the state tests began this week and continues next week, with a pause for the math tests Wednesday through Friday. The Department of Education said about 2,600 teachers will each score the English and math tests during the school day, with more teachers hired to score the exams after school and on weekends. Read More »
Apr 22, 4:59 PM
Parents Angered by G&T Scoring Errors

By Beth Fertig

News that even more children are eligible for gifted and talented seats was a relief to some parents, but many were angry at the testing company Pearson. And they worried that they're still won't be enough seats to meet the demand. join the conversation. Read More »
Apr 22, 4:00 AM
Teachers Juggle Breaking News with Lesson Plans

By Reema Khrais

One teacher used the Boston Marathon bombing to teach her students about Chechnya. Another helped students process what happened in terms they could understand. “I told them that we can’t let bullies rule us whether they’re terrorists or in the school,” he said. Read More »
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Apr 19, 5:15 PM
Pearson Admits to G&T Scoring Gaffe; Deadline Pushed to May 10

By Patricia Willens and Beth Fertig

Thanks to two parents who spotted problems with the gifted and talented scores, Pearson admitted it made major mistakes denying some students eligibility to the coveted programs. Education officials say they'll contact all affected families in the next 24 hours, and the deadline for applications has been pushed back to May 10. Read More »
Apr 19, 3:38 PM
Bronx Principal Describes Bumpy Shift to Common Core

By Yasmeen Khan

A middle school principal tells a panel on the new learning standards that in order for Common Core to succeed more money and support is needed, especially for low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities. Read More »
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On WNYC Apr 19, 3:07 PM
Stories Flood In from the Testing Front Line

By schoolbook

Teachers and parents swapped stories about the English Language Arts exams that wrapped up Thursday. Hear Beth Fertig on the Brian Lehrer Show take callers' questions and try to clarify some confusion around the state tests. Read More »
How are your children holding up during standardized testing?
Apr 18, 7:12 PM
Report: Recent School Gains are Overblown

By Beth Fertig

A new report criticizes what it calls "market-oriented education reforms" in New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC. The authors claim gains were overstated while some successful strategies were not replicated often enough. The D.O.E. dismissed the study, saying "never before in New York City history have families had access to so many great schools." Read More »
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Apr 18, 4:00 AM
Stories from the Front Line of Testing

By Beth Fertig

Ask and ye shall get. In response to Schoolbook's question about the new state tests, parents and teachers shared comments about longer reading passages and kids running out of time to answer questions. Some creative teachers came up with a new song about the exams. And we got a very interesting question. Read More »
How are your children holding up during standardized testing?
Viewpoint Apr 18, 4:00 AM
Field Tests: Unfair Burden on Students

By Fred Smith

On Tuesday’s third-grade English test there were 30 questions that children had 70 minutes to answer. They didn’t know which items counted and which did not. This writer believes field testing raises ethical questions. It's a practice, he says, that benefits the commercial interests of the publisher, and makes children the unwitting subjects of research. Read More »
Viewpoint Apr 18, 4:00 AM
Why My Son is Not Taking the State Tests

By Josmar Trujillo

"When I look at my son, I don't see a data point or a test score. I don't look at my son and see future SAT's or LSAT's. I see a kid frustrated with 'practice tests' and the narrow curriculum his teachers are forced to teach." Read More »
On WNYC Apr 17, 12:41 PM
CUNY Chancellor Says Number of Remedial Students Still a Concern

By schoolbook

After 14 years on the job, Matthew Goldstein, chancellor of the City University of New York, is stepping down this summer. He tells WNYC that while the system has changed and grown, the persistently high number of city students who are not ready for college is "too high." Take a listen. Read More »
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