College-Level Learning Starts Now
Dear Families and Colleagues,
Last week, I visited World View High School in the Bronx to celebrate a group of students and their exciting accomplishment: earning six or more course credits at Lehman College. They are not college students yet, but they are getting a head start on college-level learning, thanks to the College Now program.
College Now is a partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY) that allows our high school students to enroll in CUNY courses before they graduate, helping them save both time and tuition down the road.
It’s one of the many ways our Office of Student Pathways is reimagining college and career preparation. Along with initiatives like FutureReadyNYC and Career and Technical Education, College Now equips students with the skills, knowledge, and exposure to thrive in both higher education and the workforce.
At this time of year, our schools are actively supporting seniors to prepare for their next steps. Remember, all graduating NYC Public Schools students are guaranteed admission to a CUNY program, and our students’ CUNY application fees are waived through November 21.
For additional information and advising opportunities, visit our website. And thank you to CUNY, our many partners, our families, and our staff, all of whom play a critical role in building bold futures for our students.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight
Our Office of Student Pathways team is laser-focused on developing and supporting programs like College Now and FutureReadyNYC, ensuring students have high-quality opportunities that set them on paths to success. As Kristen Harris, Executive Director of College and Career Planning, said, “When systems come together around students, barriers fall, opportunities expand, and every young person can see themselves on a clear path to their future.”
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Our Highlight Video
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NYCPS News and Resources
Family Empowerment in the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning
October 24, 225
Dear Families and Colleagues,
One of my three commitments as Chancellor is to empower our families and communities. Today, I want to share updates on two initiatives led by our Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL) specifically designed for this purpose: our Multilingual NYC Advisory Council and our Beyond Access Series.
Founded in 2024, the Multilingual NYC Advisory Council was charged with boldly reimagining multilingual education in NYC Public Schools. The Council recently announced its final recommendations, which include expanding pathways to multilingualism, promoting a culture of inclusion for multilingual families, and more. You can access the full report on our website. I want to thank the dedicated council members—families, educators, community leaders, advocates, and beyond—whose expertise will help us better serve our multilingual learners.
I’m also proud of our Beyond Access Series, a collection of webinars for families focused on students with disabilities. This series covers everything from the basics of special education—what it is and how to request evaluations—to understanding your rights as a parent if your child already has special education services. It also provides practical strategies to support students at home, reinforce the progress they’re making in school, and nurture their growing independence. Our most recent webinar had nearly 5,000 attendees, and I encourage you to join us for our next session on November 17.
Through these initiatives and others, I am eager to continue supporting, empowering, and listening to our families and communities.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight
Kaitlin Rosario-Rivera proudly served on our Multilingual NYC Advisory Council. A graduate of NYC Public Schools herself, she recently joined Brooklyn’s PS 59 as an interim assistant principal after five years as an English as a Second Language (ESL) and Dual Language teacher. She described the advisory council as "a powerful experience," where members were "learning from one another, honoring each voice, and growing stronger through connection.
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Our Highlight Video
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NYCPS News and Resources
Promoting Respect in Our Schools
October 17, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
October is National Bullying Prevention Month—and at New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), we are continuing to take important steps to promote respect in every classroom across every borough.
We recently launched a student-led anti-bullying campaign as part of NYCPS Cares. It’s called Kindness over Bullies, and it builds on our Respect for All (RFA) initiative to ensure all members of our school communities treat each other with care and compassion.
Through the campaign, we are encouraging schools to distribute a Respect and Accountability Pledge, which students can sign to commit to:
- Treating others with respect, whether in person or online.
- Helping create an inclusive school environment.
- Reporting bullying to caring adults, such as their school’s Respect for All Liaison (contact information for RFA Liaisons can be accessed via our “Find a School” tool).
This campaign is one of many ways we are building safe and welcoming school communities. Our Anti-Hate Hotline can be used by anyone in the NYCPS community to report incidents of bias. Our social studies curricular materials, including Hidden Voices, help students appreciate the diverse communities and cultures that make up our city. Combined with Kindness over Bullies and Respect for All, these resources send a clear message both this month and year-round: At NYCPS, respect is a top priority.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight
Our anti-bullying campaign is a student-led effort, and I’m proud that we had 135 students, representing 44 schools, who contributed to the design of the campaign and chose its name, Kindness over Bullies. These students' perspectives on bullying and their ideas for building trust between students and staff were invaluable. As David Barone, our Director of Youth Support Services who facilitated the students’ involvement, said, “By centering students in this work, we build schools where every member of the community feels seen, supported, and valued.”
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Our Highlight Video
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NYCPS News and Resources
Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports
October 10, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
There’s an acronym you might be hearing frequently these days—in the classroom, at parent-teacher conferences, in staff professional development, and more. That acronym is MTSS, and it stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports. While MTSS has a lengthy title, it means something very straightforward: every student gets what they need.
MTSS starts with deeply understanding students’ progress. Teachers carefully analyze multiple data points, including diagnostics, assessments, classwork, and more, to identify students who need extra support and what type of support they need. For example, with reading, one student might require extra help with phonics, in order to improve their fluency, while another might benefit from vocabulary support, to better understand the words on the page.
Then, to address these unique needs, teachers provide each student with targeted instruction—called an intervention—so they can practice that specific skill, often in small groups. Over the course of the school year, teachers adjust these interventions based on students' progress.
Many schools have been implementing MTSS for a long time. But as I announced recently, we are now taking a systemwide approach to MTSS as part of NYC Reads. We are setting guidelines for MTSS across our city, designating which interventions schools should use so that all children—including our students with disabilities and multilingual learners—have high-quality, personalized learning experiences.
With MTSS, we are ensuring our students get what they need to become proficient, thriving readers.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight
At The Leadership and Community Service Academy in the Bronx, MTSS is an all-hands-on-deck effort. The entire staff helps to implement MTSS, whether by delivering interventions or supporting with logistics. The school uses every opportunity throughout the day to offer as many small-group interventions as possible, and the results are evident in students’ own reflections. As one student said, “I was improving on every benchmark” thanks to the school’s reading groups.
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Our Highlight Video
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NYCPS News and Resources
Sparking Intellectual Curiosity
October 3, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
On Monday, for our third annual State of Our Schools, we did things a little bit differently.
First, we hosted an onstage panel discussion, so we could hear directly from our students, staff, and families. Chief of Staff Kenita Lloyd moderated the conversation, which covered topics ranging from NYC Solves to family empowerment. As I listened to the panelists’ reflections, I felt so grateful to be in a room of New Yorkers—students, families, staff, community members, and more—whose dedication drives our work every day.
Then I shared my remarks, which centered on a single image: a spark. I spoke about the ways we are sparking intellectual curiosity in our students, focusing on academic rigor and deep learning through NYC Reads, NYC Solves, and Student Pathways. I shared how NYCPS Cares, our newest priority initiative, is lighting a spark through the power of connection and care.
I was also thrilled to make multiple announcements, including an 80-school pilot to support English Language Learners with new NYC Reads curricula; a four-part framework that will guide our efforts on AI; and the expansion of trauma-informed care training to 119 schools in our inaugural NYCPS Cares cohort.
And finally, in another first, we published our NYC Public Schools Accountability Tool—an important step in ensuring transparency and communicating clearly about our progress. I encourage you to explore this tool and check back regularly, as we will update the data throughout the school year.
Monday's event was unique and exciting. I’m immensely proud of how far we’ve come, but I fully appreciate that there is so much work ahead. As I stated at the end of my speech, a spark represents a beginning—and at NYCPS, we are just getting started.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight:
Cindy Flores, who participated in the State of Our Schools panel discussion, is an eighth-grade math teacher at The Institute for Environmental Learning in the Bronx. She fell in love with math when she was a middle school student herself at PS 89—and now she’s in her 13th year of teaching! During the panel, Ms. Flores spoke about the positive impact of NYC Solves on her classroom, as did two of her students, Avril and Derek. They are “blossoming mathematicians,” she said of her students. “They energize me to continue to do this work.”
NYCPS News and Resources:
Every School Day Matters
September 26, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
So far, we’ve had 15 days of school this year. That means 15 days of discovery and new experiences, of connection and growth. When it comes to our children’s learning, the research shows that every day counts.
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and it's critical to start the year with strong attendance habits. When students are in school, they benefit from learning in all its forms—in the classroom, on the playground, during extracurricular activities, through field trips, and so much more. You can hear it directly from our students in this week’s Highlight Video; they want to show up and be part of the action!
So, let’s make that happen. We know that getting to school consistently can sometimes present challenges, and we are here to help. Our Parent Coordinators can assist any family that needs support with overcoming attendance barriers. Families can also access attendance-related policies and resources on our website.
Let’s make this year one full of learning and growth for our students. That starts with being present, every day.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight:
Malika Elwin and Keri Cerio are two leaders of our citywide attendance efforts through the Office of Attendance, Research, and Innovation. Keri has been with NYC Public Schools for a decade, and Malika for two! Every day, they closely examine our attendance data and respond in real time to attendance concerns in schools. They also provide training for schools and districts to build strong attendance habits and practices. Keri described the team’s approach as “working collaboratively to remove those barriers to regular attendance.” Doing so, Malika added, helps to “offer our students a path forward, so that they can realize their full potential.”
NYCPS News and Resources:
Empowering Our Families
September 19, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
As both a lifelong educator and a New York City Public Schools parent, I know firsthand the importance of family empowerment. Parents and guardians must be welcomed, respected, and valued in our school communities. This is one of the three commitments I made when I first became Chancellor, along with student safety and educator support. So, as we start the year, here are a few ways we’re ensuring families are at the table:
To our staff, thank you for your dedication and hard work on behalf of our students. To our parents and family members, thank you for your collaboration and for trusting us with your children. We are all partners in this work.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight:
Our Family Connectors are actively supporting our communities: building relationships, making connections, and increasing access to critical resources. The experience is a meaningful one, both for the families receiving support and for the Family Connectors themselves.
As one Family Connector put it, “Being a Family Connector has literally changed my life, because it has allowed me to learn information that I never knew existed.” Thank you, Family Connectors, for your leadership!
NYCPS News and Resources:
Welcome Back to School!
September 4, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
Welcome back! I’m thrilled to be starting the 2025-26 school year, and I hope you are as well. As both an educator and a parent, I’ve experienced many first days of school—but this one has special meaning for me, because it’s my first “first day of school” as Chancellor. Our community has so much to accomplish together this year, and I can’t wait to get started.
First, we’re going to continue to expand upon our key initiatives: NYC Reads, NYC Solves, Student Pathways, and NYCPS Cares. NYC Reads and NYC Solves, which reimagine literacy and math instruction, are coming to 186 additional schools, and our FutureReadyNYC program, which offers high-demand career pathways for our high schoolers, will grow to 50 more schools. NYCPS Cares, our newest initiative, is all about creating a culture of care in our communities; as part of this work, we’ve launched student-led anti-bullying and anti-vaping campaigns, along with a program called Family Connectors, in which family members and community volunteers help other families access city resources.
These initiatives are already having an impact—just look at our 2025 state exam results, which show promising gains in both reading and math. The percentage of students scoring "proficient" in grades 3-8 grew 7.2 points in literacy and 3.5 points in math, leading to our highest proficiency rates in these subjects since 2012. I’m immensely proud of our students, staff, and families, whose hard work and commitment are directly reflected in these results. We certainly have more to do, but these improvements show we’re on the right track.
This year, we’ll build on this progress by emphasizing intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, filling our classrooms with rich discussion, deep thinking, and lots of "Aha!" moments. We are also implementing the new state law prohibiting student use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day, which will help minimize distractions so students can fully engage. Sparking our students' love of learning is a key ingredient in fulfilling our mission: to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in their careers and communities.
I’m so excited to begin this journey with you as my partners. Thank you to our staff, our families and parent leaders, and our entire New York City Public Schools community for your dedication to our students. Happy first day of school, and here’s to an incredible year ahead!
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
NYCPS News and Resources:
Preparing for the 2025-2026 School Year
August 29, 2025
Dear Families and Colleagues,
It’s that time of year again! We wrapped up our phenomenal Summer Rising programming, teachers will soon set up their classrooms, and on September 4, our schools will be filled with students ready to learn.
They’ll be building on some incredible progress—on the 2025 New York state exams, proficiency rates increased by 3.5 percentage points in math and 7.2 percentage points in reading! I’m immensely proud of the entire NYCPS community—educators, families, and students—who implemented NYC Reads, NYC Solves, and all our academic initiatives that led to these results.
As the new school year begins, we are poised for another year of learning, growth, and discovery. Families, here are some important reminders as we prepare to return to school on September 4:
For more information and a back-to-school checklist, visit schools.nyc.gov/BackToSchool. You can also reach out to your school’s Parent Coordinator with any questions or concerns; you can locate their contact information with our “Find a School” tool.
I can’t wait to see you all very soon and to celebrate the first of many amazing days in the 2025-2026 school year!
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight:This July and August, the Summer Rising site at River East Elementary in East Harlem was buzzing with excitement and learning. Thanks to our partnerships with multiple community-based organizations, students participated in enrichment ranging from swimming to dance—activities that Fernando, a Summer Rising student, noted as highlights of the summer. He also found the academics engaging, saying, “My teacher made learning fun.”
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