The Definitive Guide to New York Education & Parenting

The U.S. Department of Education building exterior in Washington

Justin G. Jun 18, 2026

Special Education and Civil Rights Are Leaving the Education Department

The federal government is moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Education Department. The laws protecting students with disabilities have not changed, but who enforces them has. Here is what it means for families, and why some states have far more at stake.

A parent and child reviewing report card

The Playbook

Justin G. Jun 17, 2026

Your Kid's Report Card Just Came Home. Now What?

A "3" is not a "C." Here is how to actually read a standards-based report card, decode what Meeting and Approaching mean, tell it apart from the state test, and turn the marks into a real summer plan before the teacher leaves for break.

Studying and parade celebration in contrast

The Playbook

Justin G. Jun 16, 2026

The Parade and the Exam Land on the Same Morning - How Will You Decide?

The championship parade and a state exam fall on the very same morning, putting parents in an impossible spot. Here is a clear-headed framework for deciding, the retake facts that change the stakes, and the one question that settles most of it.

a family meeting with a special education committee, discussing their child's IEP

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 16, 2026

Your Child Has an IEP, Now What? A Parent's Step-by-Step Survival Guide

If your child just received an IEP and you're not sure what happens next, this step-by-step guide walks New York parents through their rights, the annual review process, how to respond when services aren't delivered, and free resources available statewide.

Rick and Jalen Brunson join Inside the NBA after winning Championship

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 15, 2026

Praise in Public: A Parenting Lesson From a Championship Night

A championship night and one father's honest answer offer a quiet but powerful lesson for every parent: protecting our children sometimes means choosing the right words at the right moment, and letting a child's biggest win be fully theirs.

candid shot of a parent and teenager sitting together on a couch looking at a single phone screen

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 12, 2026

When Going Viral Becomes a Risk: A Parent's Guide to Keeping Teens Safe

A 17-year-old's viral prom photos turned into a memorial overnight. Here is how New York parents can help teens protect their digital footprint, manage privacy, and build the real-world situational awareness that keeps them safe online and off.

Nighttime city street outside a major arena, large crowd of sports fans celebrating

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 12, 2026

Celebration Is Not a License: What the Postgame Chaos Says About How We Raise Kids

A historic comeback ended with shattered windshields, climbed signs, and objects hurled at players. The real story is not the chaos. It is what it reveals about emotional regulation, early education, and how we raise kids to celebrate without causing harm.

A mom and son sitting on a porch and talking

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 11, 2026

A Parent's Guide: How to Talk to Your Teen About Social Media

New York's SAFE for Kids Act is changing how teens experience social media, but the most powerful protection still happens at home. Here is a practical, judgment-first guide to talking with your teen about privacy, safety, screen time, and self-worth.

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 10, 2026

Two Boys, One Decision: What the Karmelo Anthony Verdict Asks of Every Parent

The Karmelo Anthony murder verdict is a national headline, but for parents it is something closer to home: a hard, necessary conversation about consequences, conflict, and teaching our kids that walking away is the bravest thing they can do.

Modern building with walkway and pedestrians

News & Updates

Justin G. Jun 8, 2026

Which New York School Districts Report the Most Student Drug Incidents?

New state data reveals which New York school districts and counties report the most student drug incidents, and the answer is not New York City. See the full district and county rankings, the upstate surge driving them, and what families should ask their schools.

Students taking exams in gymnasium setting

Parent Support

Justin G. Jun 5, 2026

Graduation Rules: Here Is Why Your Child Still Has to Take the Regents.

New York is rebuilding what it means to earn a high school diploma, but the Regents exams are not gone yet. Here is what is actually changing, which students are affected, and why your child still has to take the test this year.

News & Updates

Justin G. Jun 4, 2026

New York Now Has Statewide Rules for Diapering and Toileting in Schools

New York just adopted its first statewide rules for diapering and toileting in schools. Section 136.10 sets new standards for equipment, training, privacy, and dignity, and bars schools from excluding children who are not yet potty trained. Here is what every New York parent needs to know.

Your Child Has an IEP, Now What? A Parent's Step-by-Step Survival Guide

When Going Viral Becomes a Risk: A Parent's Guide to Keeping Teens Safe

Which New York School Districts Report the Most Student Drug Incidents?

The Standard NY Resource Center