Dear Colleagues:
As we wrap up a great school year tomorrow, I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all of the work you do on behalf of our students and families…and to extend to you and your families my wishes for a wonderful summer.
It was great to connect with many of you last week during our systemwide Zoom call on the importance of our NYC Reads campaign. This is a top classroom priority: strengthening the support and guidance we provide to our educators and students, particularly on the critical, foundational skill of reading. Professional learning for Phase 1 districts is already underway, and I’m tremendously excited for the classroom work to begin in September in those 15 districts.
In addition to the successful launch of NYC Reads, we’ve done a lot of great work together across our classrooms and campuses this year.
Reimagining Student Pathways to Careers
We launched FutureReadyNYC to bring advanced, career-connected learning to high school students, by building powerful partnerships with major companies like Northwell Health and JP Morgan Chase that put thousands of students in paid internships in 21st century workplaces.
Project Open Arms
We’ve banded together in our schools and across city and community agencies to show the best of New York City’s warm and welcoming spirit through the Project Open Arms program. We’ve opened our arms and supported approximately 18,000 students in temporary housing into our schools since last July. I’m tremendously grateful to our educators and our school communities for the kindness and generosity you’ve shown to our newest New Yorkers.
Safe and Welcoming Schools
Project Pivot has brought together 144 partner organizations and schools in support of our most at-risk students and to enhance the safety climate in and around our schools. We’re hearing really great feedback from schools on Project Pivot and have seen positive results in several safety measures.
Truly Universal Early Childhood Education
For the first time, our Office of Early Childhood Education has centered children with disabilities and opened 700 new seats to ensure we’re meeting the needs of all of our families. This fills a critical gap in the offerings that we were providing to our community.
Expanded Programs for Students with Disabilities
Across all grade levels, we are centering our students with disabilities and their families, and we are focused on making our schools places where they can receive a great education and have all their needs met.
We have expanded programs to support kids with dyslexia, emotional and sensory needs, and autism – building on what works and leaning into the innovative, home-grown approaches that our families tell us works.
And there has been so much more terrific work happening in schools and offices across the city. Thank you again for being a part of the New York City Public Schools, for lifting up our students and each other, and for helping us make great progress toward our mission of ensuring that each student graduates on a pathway to a rewarding career and long-term economic security, equipped to be a positive force for change.
Have a great summer!
Soaring high,
David C. Banks
Chancellor
Calendar Update
The 2023-24 school calendar has been revised and includes additional vacation days. The updated calendar is attached.
In order to help our staff and school communities with future planning, we are also releasing the approved school calendars for the following two school years, 2024-25 and 2025-26, which are also attached and will be posted on our website.
NYC School Calendars: