It seems very plausible that there is room to be smarter w/ contracting. But also notable that they didn't offer many examples. The only one Mamdani offered is DOE did not rigorously track the technology it bought for remote learning in the middle of a global health emergency

After Mamdani announced plans to phase out gifted programs, Cuomo + Sliwa said they would expand them instead Eric Adams tried to do that — and roughly 1 in 3 of the city's gifted programs are underenrolled. Heres why w/ @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Lost in the debate over NYC’s gifted and talented program rekindled by Mamdani’s proposal was the fact that the program underwent a big change in recent years: eliminating its admissions test. @alexzimmerman.bsky.social dug into how that change has played out: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Eric Adams’ first schools Chancellor David Banks shares his thoughts on the last year of Adams’ tenure as news comes he won’t seek a second term. Via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

One parent, whose child attends a Zeta charter school, felt forced to miss work at a restaurant on Thursday to join the rally. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

After federal funding threat, NYC Mayor Eric Adams targets transgender students’ bathroom access www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Really excited for this talk next week at Lofty Pigeon about two important books. NYC education folks - would love to see you there!

New York students are supposed to have 180 days of school. NYC Public Schools has 176. @amyzimmer.bsky.social explains why: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

"To several education advocates and observers, the response underscored that Mamdani has largely stuck to broad promises to invest in schools rather than advancing detailed ideas." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

This is a worthwhile watch for stakeholders in NYCPS or people generally interested in K-12 issues, a nice get for these student journalists! youtu.be/cWWsh7sz4j0?...

really liked this @alexzimmerman.bsky.social piece talking with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's favorite teacher www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

On the campaign trail, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social shouted out his favorite teacher at Bronx Science. Here's what that teacher, Marc Kagan, remembers about having Mamdani in class: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Part 2 is out today. It’s about what happens after the deportation campaign arrives at ELLIS’ doorstep and the difficult choices facing Bridget and the school as they try to make it through the Trump administration. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

If you read one thing today, read this 👇

City and state officials promised to distribute $29 million to schools to comply with the new cell phone ban. So far, NYC is sending schools $16 million of it: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

A Common Sense Media study found that prominent teacher assistants that use AI generated recommendations that appeared to be rooted in racial stereotypes based on students’ names. About a third of teachers report using AI weekly, according to a recent survey.

"The delays mean children may go without the transportation, physical therapy, counseling, and tutoring services they’re entitled to — or their parents may be forced to pay out of their own pocket" via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Catch @alexzimmerman.bsky.social on demographics at NYC's specialized high schools. www.wnyc.org/story/segreg...

Today: - @alexzimmerman.bsky.social on demographics at NYC's specialized high schools, - @weillcornell.bsky.social's Lauren Osborne on pregnancy and anti-depressants, - @rbreich.bsky.social on Boomer economics, - Where to meet romantic prospects IRL Live at 10 on 93.9 FM, AM820 or @wnyc.org

NYC's Education Department has yet to release high school admissions data, including specialized HS offers. The stats haven't been released after mid-June in more than a decade. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Enraging story from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social. NYC hasn’t paid its ~1,000 Teaching Fellows the entire 7 weeks they’ve been working this summer, forcing some to go into debt to cover rent and food. This at a time the city is trying to hire in historic numbers: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Beginning next school year, all of the city’s public schools — from elementary to high school — must pick from a list of at least nine city-approved intervention programs designed to help struggling readers: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Only ~77% of students attended school today according to preliminary data, down from ~83% yesterday Attendance is typically closer to 90% (tho this is also the final week of class)

Hearing from some teachers this week about sweltering rooms, including those for kids with more complex disabilities. Nearly 1 in 5 NYC public school classrooms lack AC www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

ICYMI: An inside look at a high school student's experience in NYC's highly touted apprenticeship program. Nearly 400 student apprentices across NYC split their days between school + job sites. A must-read from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Mayor Adams hasn't taken question from Daily News reporter @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social for months. So Chris called out to get his attention at today's press conference and the mayor tells security to bar him from future press conferences. Hard to not see that as by design

New: NYC's teachers union is *not* endorsing in the Democratic mayoral primary due to deep divisions on issues from Israel to affordability “There’s not even somewhat of a consensus on this race," UFT prez Michael Mulgrew told me. "It is split all over the place.” www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Bronx HS student Dylan’s first public statement from ICE detention - where he remains: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Every predicted consequence of the Indian Point has come true: It's forced energy bills up and increased pollution. And it was entirely driven by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a pretty major decision that has flown under the radar during his mayoral race -- www.lohud.com/story/news/n...

ICYMI: @alexzimmerman.bsky.social discussed the various plans democratic mayoral hopefuls have for public education in New York City on this morning's show. Catch up: www.wnyc.org/story/the-ma...

If you've been following the story of Dylan, the Bronx HS student detained by ICE, I hope you'll read this follow-up. I followed his school, ELLIS Prep, as they navigated the aftermath — rallying around Dylan while managing the fears spreading to other students. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

"New York City’s public schools routinely flout federal rules designed to prevent schools from removing children from class for long periods due to behavior related to their disabilities." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Under federal law, schools must consider a student’s disability and special education plan during the suspension process. NYC public schools have been breaking the rules for years. A must-read from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Groundbreaking + critical reporting from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social: "NYC's public schools routinely flout federal rules designed to prevent schools from removing children from class for long periods due to behavior related to their disabilities." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

I wrote about the ongoing Community Education Council elections in NYC - and how anger over efforts to roll back protections for transgender kids and links to right-wing parent groups in Manhattan’s CEC 2 have energized a growing effort to unseat PLACE-backed candidates in District 2 and beyond.

So proud of the student journalists @bellvoices.bsky.social for this must-listen dispatch on what it was like for NYC kids w/ undocumented parents to apply to college this yr. “I didn’t know if it was more important that I get my education than not know where my mom would be.”

Come work with @alexzimmerman.bsky.social, @amyzimmer.bsky.social and I covering NYC schools for @chalkbeat.org! workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/defau... Feel free to reach out if you're interested.

P.S Weekly is back! It's a podcast created by NYC high students (with help from @chalkbeat.org + @bellvoices.bsky.social). This bonus episode features @alexzimmerman.bsky.social in conversation with NYC students about admissions, resources, + equity. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Mass layoffs and other changes at Trump's Education Department have delayed hundreds of millions of dollars in reimbursements for New York state, an official said Monday. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025... via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social

As the mayor talks up school-based mental health clinics at his presser this morning, worth noting funding for them is perpetually part of the budget dance

In the days following Trump's EO targeting schools' support of LGBTQ+ students, as many NYC families anxiously awaited reassurance from the city (www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...), City Hall debated, then nixed idea of issuing a strong statement, per @emmagf.bsky.social

NEW: With what appears to be just 1 person left from the Office of English Language Acquisition at the Ed Dept, advocates worry some $890M in federal $ for English learners won't be spent properly & the quality of teacher training will suffer. Here's what we know: www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/21/t...

NEW: This morning Trump said he wanted to move services for students with disabilities out of the Education Department and to Health and Human Services. Many experts say he can't do that without an act of Congress. Here's what we know — w/ @ericameltzer.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/22/t...

Eric Adams touts school mental health clinics but omits them from his preliminary budget https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/03/20/eric-adams-mental-health-continuum-school-based-clinics-funding-budget-cut/

Revenge of the bubble kids in NYC. Still as stupid to fixate on kids right below passing as it’s always been The kicker? In a district with low overall proficiency, resources that could go to kids struggling most are going to kids in the middle of the distribution

Linda McMahon’s first official K-12 visit: A Bronx charter school https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/03/14/education-secretary-linda-mchahon-visits-bronx-charter-school/

Nearly a third of U.S. Department of Education staff laid off https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/11/education-department-lays-off-nearly-one-third-of-its-staff/

And some follow up: NYPD vowed more than a year ago to recruit ‘assistant’ school safety agents. They’ve hired 0. via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social + @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NYC’s school safety force has shrunk by nearly a third. Principals are raising alarms. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...