Making New York’s Schools Distraction‑Free: A Bold Move for Better Learning

Making New York’s Schools Distraction‑Free: A Bold Move for Better Learning

By: Janet Howard With the 2025–26 school year underway, New York State has launched the nation’s most ambitious bell‑to‑bell smartphone ban in K–12 schools—eliminating distractions and restoring focus to classrooms statewide. This historic Distraction-Free Schools law marks a turning point in American education. Supporters say these phone-free schools help students refocus on academics and wellbeing. […]

Reading at the Root: New York City’s Literacy Crisis and Zohran Mamdani’s Vision for Change

Reading at the Root: New York City’s Literacy Crisis and Zohran Mamdani’s Vision for Change

By Anne Webster New York City stands at a pivotal moment in its educational history, facing a literacy crisis that threatens to undermine the futures of thousands of children—particularly those living in poverty. With nearly two-thirds of low-income students unable to read at grade level, the consequences stretch far beyond the classroom, fueling cycles of […]

Reading from the Beginning: NYC’s Illiteracy Crisis and Andrew Cuomo’s Educational Blueprint

Reading from the Beginning: NYC’s Illiteracy Crisis and Andrew Cuomo’s Educational Blueprint

By: Anne Webster  New York City is grappling with a critical and largely underreported problem: illiteracy. Children are bound to struggle—and entire communities may stagnate—if students cannot master foundational reading skills. As a candidate in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo has introduced an ambitious 25-point education plan meant to reshape literacy […]

Reading at Risk: NYC’s Literacy Crisis and Eric Adams’s Response

Reading at Risk: NYC’s Literacy Crisis and Eric Adams’s Response

By: Anne Webster New York City is in the midst of a profound literacy crisis that threatens the academic and economic futures of its most vulnerable children. Nearly two-thirds of students living in poverty are unable to read at grade level, setting them on a trajectory toward lower graduation rates, limited career prospects, and diminished […]

Attorney General James Sues U.S. Department of Education for Cutting Grant Programs for Teachers

Attorney General James Sues U.S. Department of Education for Cutting Grant Programs for Teachers

Editorial credit: Steve Edreff / Shutterstock.com ED Unlawfully Cut Congressionally-Approved Funding for Grant Programs to Hire and Retain Teachers in Underserved School Districts Eight AGs File Lawsuit to Restore Funding to SEED and TQP Grant Programs NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of seven other attorneys general today filed a […]

Bridging the Educational Divide: Top Ten Ways AI Can Level the Academic Playing Field

Bridging the Educational Divide: Top Ten Ways AI Can Level the Academic Playing Field

By Chris Tobias  In the evolving landscape of education, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool to address longstanding disparities. Historically, racial inequities in academic achievement—from kindergarten through university—have been influenced by a complex interplay of socioeconomic, institutional, and pedagogical factors. By harnessing AI technology, educational institutions can create more equitable learning environments, […]

5 FAQs on the Department of Education

5 FAQs on the Department of Education

By Center for American Progress The U.S. Department of Education helps ensure all students have access to a quality education by providing critical resources to more than 50 million children attending public and private schools across the country. As the only Cabinet agency designated to oversee the majority of elementary through postsecondary education, the Department of Education […]

New York is Overhauling Graduation Requirements. Educators have Questions.

New York is Overhauling Graduation Requirements. Educators have Questions.

By Julian Shen-Berro, Chalkbeat.org |Editorial credit: Education StockPhoto / shutterstock.com  New York City educators are eagerly awaiting new details on the state’s efforts to reimagine high school graduation requirements, which officials are expected to unveil on Monday. Many have praised the proposed removal of Regents exams from diploma requirements, but questions remain over what a […]