Newsletter - NYC Public Schools Plus You

A Chance to Show What You Know

Dear New Yorkers,

This spring, students in grades 3-8 will take the New York State exams in English Language Arts and math. Fifth and eighth graders will also take their state science exams. We all know that “testing season” brings a wide range of emotions for our students, staff, and families. It can be a stressful time!

But there's another way to think about these exams—as an opportunity for our kids to show what they know. Day after day, they have been working hard at their learning. They have practiced decoding and developed phonemic awareness through NYC Reads. They have built problem-solving skills in math class and experimented in science class. They have tackled real-world issues in Social Studies. They are ready! Last year, our results showed promising growth, and I’m excited to see that trend continue in 2024.

Families and staff, how can you support our students this spring? Here are few ideas:

• Set them up for success. Ensure students get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast, either at home or at school, leading up to the tests. Emphasize that this is their time to shine. Give them lots of encouragement before the exams—a post-it note on their desk, a reassuring high-five, or a quick pep talk can go a long way.
  
  
• Remind them what the tests are meant to do, and what they’re not meant to do. These tests provide our schools with critical information about students’ progress and how we can support them, but they’re not the only measure. Grades, classwork, writing samples, and other assignments are just as important.
  
  
• Prepare fifth and eighth graders for computer-based testing. This shift to computer-based testing is a requirement from the State, as the first leg in a three-year transition to online testing statewide. Schools can also choose to administer online tests for other grades. Either way, our students are prepared; all participating grades and schools administered practice tests as part of a statewide simulation in January. Students can also practice on their own if they’d like.

For more information on this year’s exams, check out our student participation guide and the State’s parent resources. And remember, these exams are in service of something greater than a score. They’re an opportunity for students to show what they know and a call to action for us, as adults, to ensure we are guiding our kids toward bright starts and bold futures.

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Fostering Acceptance

Dear New Yorkers,

Words matter. They have power. It’s an idea we emphasize often as educators and parents, whether we are teaching our students to read or fostering their civic engagement.

I want to highlight a recent choice of words that caught my attention. In a few days, it will be April, which is Autism Acceptance Month. The purpose of this month is not to simply to acknowledge autistic people. As its name makes clear, the goal is acceptance.

One way we foster acceptance is through building understanding. I’d like to highlight one particular example from our Special Education Office, which hosts terrific webinars in their Beyond Access Series. These webinars share information on supporting students with disabilities, and while they’re designed for families, they are an excellent resource for staff and community members as well.

Last week, we had over 5,000 participants register for a session about becoming a certified IEP Parent Member, a role in which parents support and advocate for other parents in students’ IEP meetings. This is an innovative opportunity for families to develop their own expertise and understanding while also helping fellow parents—what a way to build a welcoming and inclusive culture!

We have another webinar approaching soon, on April 8. This one is focused on related services recommendations, and I encourage interested families and staff to register today. And of course, you can always visit our website to learn more about our work to reimagine special education, such as adopting more inclusive language and expanding our Nest, Horizon and AIMS programs, which teach autistic students in their neighborhood schools.

This month, let’s focus on acceptance. It’s how we want all our children to feel, no matter their identity or background. Follow us on social media @nycschools to learn more about how we’re promoting belonging – from celebrating Women’s History Month in March to honoring Arab American Heritage Month, also this April – and how we’re ensuring everyone is seen, heard, and uplifted.

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls

Dear New Yorkers,

In my three-plus decades in education, I’ve developed some core beliefs about the ways students grow, including that the most meaningful learning often happens outside the four walls of the classroom. For education to feel relevant and exciting, students need opportunities to engage with the world around them.

This belief comes to mind as I reflect on our sixth annual Civics Week, which took place March 11-15. After kicking off the week at P721K, the Brooklyn Occupational Training Center, I continued to hear updates of the incredible civic engagement happening across our city, from student meetings with local elected officials to letter writing campaigns on important issues. These experiences prepare the next generation for lifelong civic leadership, and for that reason, 25 districts have signed up for year-round resources and training through our Civics for All Partner District program.

At NYC Public Schools, hands-on learning takes place in the summer, too. We recently launched our Summer Rising application (over a month earlier than usual, to give families extra time to plan). This will be our fourth consecutive year of the program, which offers free, safe summer learning and fun to 110,000 students currently in grades K-8. Students in Summer Rising take advantage of all this city has to offer, visiting museums, parks, sporting events, and cultural institutions. The application window closes on March 25—so learn more and apply today!

Whether your student registered to vote during Civics Week or is counting down the days to Summer Rising, I invite you to ask them about all they are learning—both at their desks and beyond the classroom walls.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

What Are You Reading?

Dear New Yorkers,

Since we announced NYC Reads last spring, I’ve thought a lot about building a culture of reading in our schools and across the five boroughs. How do we make literacy a citywide, all-hands-on-deck effort?

The answer, I believe, is to engage as many families and community members as possible. So last month, we co-hosted a screening of The Right to Read, a moving documentary highlighting the national literacy crisis, with our partners at the NAACP. Afterward, multiple scholars and literacy leaders, including our very own Deputy Chancellor Carolyne Quintana, reflected on the film in an engaging panel discussion.

We also celebrated World Read Aloud Day, where Mayor Adams and I, along with approximately 40 readers from NYCPS leadership and partner organizations, read to over 1,200 students from 3-K to grade 5. I particularly enjoyed meeting the students and teachers at PS 123 in Harlem, where I read I Am Golden by Eva Chen.

To encourage families to practice reading skills at home, we’ve partnered with PBS to create dozens of short videos that feature NYCPS educators modeling science of reading strategies, such as how to blend letter sounds. Parents, I encourage you to check out these videos—and if you want to take it one step further, sign up to become a reading ambassador in your school community. We already have 1,200 parents participating! As an ambassador, you’ll learn the fundamentals of the science of reading through virtual trainings offered in multiple languages. Interested parent coordinators and other family-facing staff can enroll as well.

And finally, coming soon: NYC Reads Hubs! These Hubs will be hosted in local businesses in Districts 5, 6, 12, and 23 to give families additional access to books and literacy activities.

Families and staff, I want to leave you with one simple but powerful idea to foster a culture of reading across our city. The next time you say hello to a friend, neighbor, student, or any New Yorker, switch up your typical greeting. Don’t ask, “How are you doing?”

Instead, try, “What are you reading?” 

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Recruiting Our Newest Teachers

March 8, 2024

Dear New Yorkers,

Today we are wrapping up Career Discovery Week, when 3,000-plus high school students visit dozens of employers to learn firsthand about the world of work. On Monday, alongside our co-organizers at the Partnership for New York City, I spoke with students from Aviation High School and MESA Charter High School, who toured a JetBlue airplane at JFK Airport—and met Aviation alumni who now work at JetBlue!

As employers across the city connect with our talented NYCPS students, it feels like the perfect time to do some recruiting of my own. I’m excited to let you know that our New Teacher Application for the 2024–25 school year is now live, open to anyone who currently holds New York State teacher certification or is on track to be certified by September. (To our current high school students, especially those in our FutureReadyNYC education pathway, please keep us in mind a few years down the road!)

Here's how you can help us spread the word about this opportunity:

• Refer a NY State-certified teacher (and for aspiring teachers, share this flyer and sign-up link so they can learn more about pathways to certification)
• Post this image and flyer on your social media
• Follow our teacher recruitment team on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
  

Candidates should check our website for a range of helpful resources, including an application guide, info sessions, and our online support center. Plus, they can learn more about our $1,000 early commitment stipend, available to eligible candidates in key certification areas (like math, science, bilingual education, special education, career and technical education, and more) who accept a position in specific districts by June 15.

We’re eager to welcome our newest teachers to the NYCPS community—a community that is over 75,000 educators strong. So I'm asking you to take a moment and brainstorm. Do you know any seasoned or soon-to-be teachers? Are they passionate and committed? Could they make an impact in our classrooms?

If so, please pass along this message. We’re building bright starts and bold futures at NYCPS—and we’re hiring!

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Looking Back at Black History Month

March 1, 2024

Dear New Yorkers,

Looking back at the past few weeks, I couldn’t be prouder of how we commemorated Black History Month here at NYC Public Schools.

First, we held a deeply moving Black History Month celebration at our central office at Tweed Courthouse, featuring performances by student musicians and writers from the Channel View School for Research, Frederick Douglass Academy II, and Transit Tech CTE High School.  

Then, this week, we launched the newest edition in our Hidden Voices series: Stories of the Global African Diaspora, Volume 1. Developed over the last three years with extensive input from leading scholars and community partners, the series profiles changemakers of African descent, many overlooked in traditional historical narratives, to highlight their immense impact on the United States and the world.

And finally, I was thrilled to support our partners at the Education Equity Action Plan Coalition (EEAPC), who recently announced they are moving into the second phase of their Black Studies Curriculum pilot. We’re honored to work with the EEAPC as this curriculum takes shape. 

I believe all our students deserve to see their histories and backgrounds reflected in their classrooms, a belief grounded in my own childhood. When I was in elementary school, an amazing educator named Ms. Mildred Scott taught me about the rich history of Africa and of African Americans. She instilled in me a strong sense of pride in my heritage—and at the Hidden Voices event, I even read a poem about Africa that I wrote in her class!

Through Hidden Voices and the Black Studies Curriculum, students across our city will also have access to classroom materials that inspire and empower them. And it goes beyond New York. Hidden Voices is available to teachers, families, and districts across the nation. Anyone can download these resources for free at weteachnyc.org.

Black History Month is wrapping up, but the learning is just beginning. To our staff and families, thank you for all you do, both to commemorate the past and to shape our collective future.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Listening to Our Students, Staff, and Families

February 16, 2024

Dear New Yorkers,

People often ask me to describe the day-to-day experiences of being Chancellor of NYC Public Schools. While my schedule certainly varies, one aspect stays constant: every day, I listen. Whether on a school visit or in a meeting or at a CEC Town Hall, I cannot do my job well without truly listening to our NYCPS community.

That’s why I believe the NYC School Survey is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. It ensures that every leader in our system hears directly from students, families, and staff.

These surveys are bursting with incredibly valuable information. Are students feeling challenged academically? Are staff feeling supported? Do families feel welcome? At both the local and central level, we use the answers to these questions to make smart and meaningful changes that improve our schools.

So I’m thrilled to share that the 2024 NYC School Survey just opened this week, and teachers, families, and students in grades 6-12 can complete it at NYCSchoolSurvey.org until April 5. Families will also receive a paper copy, which is available in 10 different languages.

Now here are some important logistics: To take the survey, students will need their nine-digit student identification (OSIS) number, which can be found on their report card, student ID card, or by requesting it from their school. Families can take the survey by entering “f” followed by their child’s OSIS, or by logging into NYCSA. And teachers and eligible support staff can take the survey online after entering the randomly generated access code provided by their school's survey coordinator.

It’s our 18th administration of this survey, one of the largest annual surveys in the country. And while participation dipped during the pandemic, we are on the upswing and hope to collect more responses than ever before. I challenge each of our school communities to reach 100% participation—as IS 141 in Queens did last spring!

Between now and April 5, complete the NYC School Survey and make your voice heard. At NYCPS, we are here and ready to listen.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Promoting Respect in NYCPS

February 9, 2024

Dear New Yorkers,

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about respect. It’s a value I’ve always tried to both model and instill in those around me—as a father, teacher, principal, and now as Chancellor. Respect is at the foundation of all strong communities, including our schools. And it’s needed now perhaps more than ever.

As the crisis in the Middle East continues, and many students, staff, and families are experiencing deep pain and fear, respect for our shared humanity is critical, a message I emphasized in recent remarks as we announced our plan to combat hate in NYCPS.

I also highlighted respect at the recent Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit, hosted at Midwood High School, where approximately 1,300 students and staff representing GSA clubs from across the city joined together to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

And now we have another opportunity to discuss, emphasize and demonstrate respect at our annual Respect for All (RFA) Week. During RFA Week, which takes place February 12-16, schools lead programming that promotes belonging, honors diversity, and fights bullying and harassment. Schools have planned a wide range of creative activities this year, from no bullying pledges to a diversity celebration parade, from student-moderated panels to pronoun button workshops. PS 305 in Queens is even planning a wax museum, where some students dress as historical figures representing a wide range of identities, and other students visit the “museum” to learn about them!

I encourage families and staff to explore the Respect for All resources on our website, including information on how to report bullying if it does occur and instructions for identifying your school’s RFA liaison, who is the point person for any bullying or harassment concerns. And next week, as we celebrate and uplift respect, use the #RespectForAllWeek and #RespectForAll hashtags to share photos and videos of the great work you are doing.

We speak over 180 languages in NYC Public Schools. We have students and staff of every identity and background. Let’s celebrate that beautiful tapestry—during RFA Week and year-round.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Reimagining Special Education

February 2, 2024 

Dear New Yorkers,

A little over a year ago, I sent a PS + You newsletter with this same subject line. I was announcing a historic expansion of our specialized programming for students with disabilities, along with the launch of our Special Education Advisory Council.

Now, I’m glad to be sharing an exciting update: the Advisory Council has compiled its final report. After many hours of deep discussion and analysis, the Council’s 52 members—representing families, community leaders, advocates, students, educators, and more—have put forth recommendations that include:

• Strengthening trust between schools and families
• Prioritizing investments in special education programs close to students’ homes
• Shifting mindsets and further incorporating the lived experiences of people with disabilities into our work

A prominent theme across these recommendations is inclusivity, and while there is much work ahead, I’m proud of the steps we are already taking.

This fall we will be expanding our highly popular Nest, Horizon, and AIMS programs in Districts 5, 12, and 14, to better support our autistic students entering kindergarten. Both Nest and Horizon, which serve students through 12th grade, post impressive results (they average a 95% high school graduation rate!), and more and more families are seeking to enroll. You can learn about Nest, Horizon, and AIMS on our website.

We also created our new Inclusive and Interdependent Language Initiative, a glossary of terms that promotes inclusion and fights ableism. I encourage you to review this resource and incorporate its guidance into your interactions with students, whether you are an educator, parent, or community member.

Finally, I want to thank the Council members for their terrific work. I’m grateful for your dedication, partnership, and expertise as we boldly reimagine special education in our schools.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

$30M — And Counting — Saved For College and Career

Dear New Yorkers,

When I talk about reimagining education, I often think of the real-world skills our children need to thrive in today’s society. One practical skill that is critically important—and too often overlooked—is financial literacy, which ranges from how to create a budget to how to invest in the stock market.

We teach our high schoolers personal finance in a number of ways. Our career connected learning programs, such as FutureReady, Modern Youth Apprenticeship, and CTE, all incorporate financial literacy, as do many other schools, whether during advisory, via themed workshops, or using innovative online platforms.

But we know these skills are not just for high schoolers. That’s why, in NYC Public Schools, financial literacy begins as early as kindergarten. Two years ago, we expanded the Save For College Program citywide in partnership with NYC Kids RISE and the City. Today, over 200,000 elementary students have NYC Scholarship Accounts with nearly $30 million (and counting!) for college and career training. This means nearly every kindergarten, first, and second grader in NYCPS has a free account, with an initial $100 investment from the City.

It is never too soon to start saving, and I encourage all our families with students in grades K-2: activate your child’s account today. To learn more, check out these family resources, watch this welcome video, or attend a Zoom information session with live interpretation in your language.

Now for our high schoolers, saving for college or career training can feel even more pressing. But we are here to support. NYCPS offers free, one-on-one virtual advising sessions for high school families, led by trained, multilingual educators, on Tuesdays through Fridays, from 5-8pm. These advisors can also help students complete the FAFSA® form and apply for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program.

Families and NYCPS staff, I urge you to talk to your students about these critical action steps, especially as the season for college and career decision-making approaches. And know that whether your student is a kindergartener or a 12th grader, we are here to help them save for their futures—and to bring those financial literacy skills wherever life takes them.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Introducing the NYC School Bus App

Dear New Yorkers,

Approximately 150,000 students in grades K-12 ride our yellow school buses each day. Getting students to and from school safely is a major undertaking—we operate the largest bus fleet in the Western Hemisphere! So I’m especially proud to announce the NYC School Bus App, an innovation that makes school transportation smoother, safer, and easier for our families.  

This app, designed in partnership with Via, allows families to track their child’s school bus as it travels to and from school. What does this look like? Let’s say you’re waiting at your child’s bus stop, and it’s 10 minutes past the time they usually arrive. Instead of wondering where they are, you can simply check the app for their real-time location.  

Families with students in grades K-12 who take our yellow bus service can sign up with a few easy steps:  

First, make sure you have activated your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA). You’ll also need your student’s nine-digit ID number on hand. Then, download the NYC School Bus App from your device’s mobile application store. Use your NYCSA information to log in and select the child whose route you’d like to track.  

Please note: if your child's route does not display on the app, it means their bus driver has not yet signed up. So far, about 75% of our bus drivers have enrolled in this program, and we are working to reach full participation in the coming weeks. 

We’ll also be updating and enhancing the NYC School Bus App in response to family feedback, so we encourage you to download the app and test it out soon! We’re excited to embark on this journey with you. 

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Apply to 3-K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 School Year!

Dear New Yorkers,

It’s only the first month of 2024, but we’re already thinking ahead to September and the start of next school year, when we’ll welcome approximately 150,000 3-K, Pre-K and Kindergarten students into our classrooms. 

For families with students turning three, four, or five this calendar year, you have a wide range of options. Consider Kindergarten as an example. From Gifted and Talented Kindergarten programs in every district to dual language programs in 12 different languages, there are so many opportunities to explore. This September, we are opening new elementary schools with dual language programs in Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish and our first-ever Montessori district public school. You can learn more about these Kindergarten options on our website.

Our 3-K and Pre-K portfolio is equally rich. We provide programs in district schools, community-based organizations, family childcare centers, and more. Pre-K also offers dual language programs in 12 languages, and eligible families have the option of both extended day and year-round 3-K and Pre-K programming. 

At NYC Public Schools, we value choice—that’s why families can list up to 12 programs on their applications. Since we do our best to match your child to your top preference, it's critical to ensure the order of your program list matches your true preferences. Typically, about 95% of our Kindergarten applicants are placed into one of their three highest-ranked programs! 

Now is the time to start preparing for the upcoming school year. For our families with students entering 3-K, Pre-K, or Kindergarten, I encourage you to review the application process on our website. Kindergarten applications for the 2024-2025 school year are due January 19, and 3-K and Pre-K applications just opened earlier this week. (If you need a seat for your child for the remainder of this school year, visit our website or contact a Family Welcome Center for support.)

We look forward to welcoming your children to our schools this fall!

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Celebrating the Arts this Holiday Season

December 22, 2023

Dear New Yorkers,

We are in the midst of the holiday season. For many, this is the best month of the year, filled with warmth, happiness, and celebration. For others, it is a particularly difficult time, reminding us of loved ones we’ve lost or other hardships. No matter what this season means to you, I hope you find a sense of community and support here at New York City Public Schools. 

One of the best ways we build community in our schools is through the arts. When students have a chance to perform and create, they become part of something larger than themselves.

These last few weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to see the arts in action in so many of our schools, from holiday performances to end-of-year celebrations. I recently attended an incredible tribute to Tony Bennett, founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, where students and alumni sang, danced, and acted to the legendary singer’s music. I also paid a visit to Radio City Music Hall, where 50 dancers from DeWitt Clinton High School opened for the Rockettes! Our students’ talent is nothing short of showstopping. 

I also have the good fortune of viewing student artwork every day. Our central office at Tweed Courthouse is currently home to 122 paintings and sculptures from students across all five boroughs, selected from over 1,200 submissions to our annual P.S. Art exhibition. Before they moved to Tweed, these winning pieces were displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! The deadline for next year’s competition is February 2—teachers can submit their students’ artwork here.

I invite you to read our latest Arts in Schools Report and further explore our arts offerings on our website. And while summer is still months away, applications are open for our free, four-week Summer Arts Institute for students entering grades 8-12 next fall. Learn more here and apply by February 11.

As we approach the new year, I want to send my best wishes to all our students, staff, and families. The next PS + You will land in your inboxes in 2024!

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Nuestras escuelas hablan su idioma/Our Schools Speak Your Language

Estimados neoyorquinos:

David C. Banks

Canciller

NYC Public Schools: The World’s Classroom

December 8, 2023

Dear New Yorkers,

Our school system is the largest in the nation, so it should come as no surprise that educators, families, and leaders across the country are interested in what’s happening in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). But it's not just the eyes of the nation on us—the international community looks to our schools as well! 

Did you know that in 2023 alone, we’ve had visitors representing over 20 different countries, ranging from Brazil in January to Moldova just last week? These visitors include government officials, education ministers, ambassadors, and educators seeking to learn from what we’re doing here at NYCPS. The visits are also an opportunity for us to share best practices, build connections, and learn from other countries and cultures. 

Our international visitors are interested in a wide variety of topics, such as dual language programs (Italy), career and technical education (Kazakhstan), and education technology (Iceland). In a school system as large as ours, there's no shortage of opportunities to cover all these topics, and more.

For example, last month a delegation from Thailand visited two of our schools that provide instruction in American Sign Language (ASL). At “47” The American Sign Language and English Secondary School, which serves deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students, the delegation learned about “voice off days,” where communication among all students and staff takes place entirely in ASL.

We also recently hosted a delegation from the Philippines, which visited two of our early childhood programs in the Bronx. The delegation learned about our early childhood model, including our approach to curriculum, assessment, and professional learning, and the Mayor of Biñan described the visit as "life changing." He said the experience would guide his work when he returned home.

When I reflect on moments like these, I’m grateful for the dedication of our staff and for the partnership of our families—together, we are making New York City a model of educational excellence and innovation, one that impacts students and communities around the world. 

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Introducing NYC Teenspace – Free Mental Health Support for Students Ages 13-17

December 1, 2023

Dear New Yorkers,

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

*Families, please note: NYC Teenspace is not a crisis hotline. If a student is in crisis or danger, call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911 for immediate emergency support.

Engaging Families to Be Our True Partners

November 22, 2023

Dear New Yorkers,

I hope this message finds you all surrounded by warmth and community spirit. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to share my gratitude to our families for choosing NYC Public Schools, and to our NYCPS staff for their dedication to our families.

I believe our shared vision for our children—Bright Starts and Bold Futures—is deeply rooted in the collective strength of our families and school communities. That's why engagement is the cornerstone of everything we do. Families: your involvement is not just important; it's essential.

Consider NYC Reads, our initiative to transform the way we teach reading. In our Phase 1 districts, we're excited to partner with families through local literacy events, and in Phase 2 districts, which will implement NYC Reads next school year, family and community voices are shaping critical curriculum decisions. We're also sharing activities and resources with families across the city to bolster reading skills at home. This past summer, over 1,000 families joined us for sessions on our new Early Childhood curriculum, and these sessions are continuing throughout the school year.

I want to again thank each of you—families, staff, and community members—for your deep commitment and partnership. Together we are building bright starts and bold futures for our students, so every child can meet their full potential. I am honored to do this work alongside you.

Soaring high,

David C. Banks

Chancellor

Reflecting on Election Day

November 11, 2023

Celebrating our Student Athletes

November 3, 2023

I recently returned to my alma mater, Hillcrest High School, for a dedication ceremony to rename the school gym in honor of Hillcrest’s longtime basketball coach, Ken Gershon. In his 30 years as head coach at Hillcrest, he never missed a single game.

And while I personally didn’t make the cut for Coach Gershon’s team (a disappointment to this day!), his dedication left a lasting impression. To me, Coach Gershon represents the power of sports – to unite, to motivate, and to inspire us to grow and achieve.

That’s why I’m so proud of our Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) student-athletes and coaches. The pandemic disrupted many of our athletic programs, but our students and staff persisted. Now, with over 46,000 PSAL athletes across 3,400-plus teams, we are on track to meet—and hopefully exceed—pre-pandemic participation.

Not only are our sports teams back and stronger than ever, but we are continuing to expand, improve, and innovate. We want to ensure our students have access to the widest array of sports possible, so in addition to the more typical options such as soccer, track, and volleyball, we offer cricket, bowling, table tennis, rugby, and double dutch, too. We’ve also embarked on several renovations and restorations to our athletic facilities, from the sports fields at the Kennedy and Jefferson High School campuses to the pool at the DeWitt Clinton High School campus. I attended the ribbon cutting for the DeWitt Clinton pool last week along with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue—and the energy was contagious. Our student-athletes are ready to put the pool to good use.

We are also empowering our students to imagine new possibilities and build bold futures through sports. We recently held our annual softball and baseball showcases for PSAL athletes to show off their skills to college coaches and scouts. And last month, the Erasmus Hall Campus football team traveled all the way to London to compete against the NFL Academy of the UK. We hosted a terrific send-off for the team at our central office, where I reminded them: this is not about winning or losing. It’s about showing up, giving your best, and learning from this unique international experience. I think Coach Gershon would’ve agreed.

As we approach our fall sports postseason, I encourage you to join us for an upcoming playoff or championship game. To find the schedule for your favorite team, check out our PSAL website or follow PSAL on X, Instagram, or Threads.

Taking Action on Climate Change

October 30, 2023

I often speak about our mission of preparing students for bright starts and bold futures, and when I do, I consider the world we are preparing them to enter. It is complex and rapidly changing—and it is facing the existential threat of climate change. Our kids did not create this problem, but they will most certainly be critical in solving it.

That’s why I’m thrilled about our first-ever New York City Public Schools Climate Action Days—four days, each with a distinct theme, to highlight the importance of sustainability and encourage climate action in our schools:

• December 6: Energy
• February 7: Waste
• April 17: Health, Wellness, and Green Space
• June 12: Water

On Climate Action Days, our school communities will delve into these topics and learn about sustainability, allowing them to set school-based goals and take action. To prepare, our Office of Energy and Sustainability led three all-day trainings this month for teachers and school staff, with nearly 750 participants in total. These educators planned climate-related activities and programming tailored to their school communities, ranging from “neighborhood energy investigation” field trips to plastic-free lunch days to building rain gardens and water filters.

The possibilities for climate education and action are endless. Did you know that, according to a 2017 study from the City's Sanitation Department, 51% of waste generated in our schools can be composted, and 35% can be recycled? To me, there’s a clear message behind this data: when it comes to the environment and building a greener future, we as a school system have an opportunity—and responsibility—to lead the way.

Already, NYC Public Schools are the largest contributor to the city’s solar energy goals, with 81 solar installations across our schools to-date. We are also connecting our students to green jobs through our Career and Technical Education programs and career-connected learning. And by the end of this school year, we will have curbside composting accessible to every one of our schools—the largest school composting program in the nation. 

As we approach our Climate Action Days, I encourage the entire NYCPS community to get involved! Families, reach out to your children’s schools and ask about their plans for our first Climate Action Day on December 6. You can also visit our webpage for age-appropriate book recommendations for your children, focused on climate and sustainability.

To our school staff, thank you for all of your hard work this fall to make Climate Action Days a success. I see you, and I appreciate you. Your legacy will be the students you inspire to protect our planet.

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