The Definitive Guide to New York Education & Parenting

Simone P. Jul 17, 2026

New York's Summer Programs Keep Getting Smoked Out, and No One's Fixed the Response

A statewide air quality advisory pulled summer camps indoors across New York this week, but whether a program got the memo in time still comes down to luck.

Black senior homeowner reviewing paperwork

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 17, 2026

Property Tax Relief Is Coming for Nearly 3 Million New Yorkers - Here Is What You Will Actually See

Nearly 3 million New Yorkers are splitting over $2 billion in STAR property tax relief this year, with checks running from $350 to $1,500 depending on age and income.

A teacher at a desk, laptop open to a lesson-plan

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 16, 2026

Claude for Teachers Launches Amid NY AI Policy Gaps

Anthropic's free new AI tool for teachers lands in New York classrooms just as the state's biggest district still can't finish its own AI rules, and the nation's largest teachers union pivots from banning classroom AI to endorsing it.

a parent crouched down hugging a young child goodbye outside a school entrance

Parent Support

Simone P. Jul 16, 2026

Is Your Child Actually Ready for Kindergarten? What Teachers Notice During the First Month

Forget the checklist of letters and numbers. Kindergarten teachers spend the first month watching for something else entirely, and here is exactly what it is.

A child sits in bed illuminated by a tablet

Parent Support

Justin G. Jul 15, 2026

When Summer Screen Time Becomes a School-Year Problem

Summer technology habits can make the return to school harder. A gradual family reset can restore sleep, attention, homework routines, and healthier phone boundaries without turning every day into an argument.

School technology professionals reviewing district network security

Parent Support

Simone P. Jul 15, 2026

How Secure Is Your School District's Student Data?

New York audits found thousands of unnecessary school network accounts and delayed breach notifications. Here is what families should ask about student-data security.

black female principal observing small-group instruction

The Playbook

Simone P. Jul 14, 2026

What Happens When New York Places a School in Receivership?

New York school receivership gives superintendents expanded authority to turn around persistently struggling schools. Here is what changes and what families can demand.

A child being tutored in a room that has views to outside where other kids are playing

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 13, 2026

New York's New Reading Push Could Change What Summer Tutoring Actually Buys You

New York is training 25 Empire State Service Corps members in the science of reading. Here is what the shift means for summer tutoring, how families should evaluate reading support, and the questions every parent should ask before saying yes.

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 10, 2026

New York City Freezes School Tech Spending While Its AI Policy Keeps Slipping

NYC schools have paused new technology purchases while officials scramble to finish an AI policy that keeps slipping. Here is what changed, what didn't, and why it matters well beyond the five boroughs.

a teenager sitting quietly at a kitchen table

The Playbook

Simone P. Jul 8, 2026

Your Teen's Mood Is Talking: How Schools and Families Can Respond Before Crisis Hits

Teen mental health warning signs often appear first as changes in mood, attendance, grades, friendships, and behavior. Schools and families need early systems of care.

Girls with playful smiles at the rock exhibit

Parent Support

Justin G. Jul 7, 2026

The Empty Afternoon: Why the Best Thing You Can Give Your Kid This Summer Is Nothing to Do

Child development research suggests the most valuable thing you can give a kid this summer isn't another camp or activity. It's a long, boring, unsupervised afternoon with nothing planned at all.

Kid's hand scrolling on a smartphone at home

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 6, 2026

Congress Passed a Kids' Online Safety Law. Albany Got There Two Years Earlier.

The House just passed a major kids' online safety bill. New York already passed something similar, and tougher, two years ago. Here is what changes, what doesn't, and why the difference actually matters for families here.

What Happens When New York Places a School in Receivership?

New York City Freezes School Tech Spending While Its AI Policy Keeps Slipping

The Empty Afternoon: Why the Best Thing You Can Give Your Kid This Summer Is Nothing to Do

The Standard NY Resource Center