The Definitive Guide to New York Education & Parenting

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

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.

a small rural one-room schoolhouse in upstate New York

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 6, 2026

Same Judges, Same Law, Same Verdict: New York's Vaccine Mandate Survives a Second Look

A federal appeals court has upheld New York's school vaccine mandate for a second time, after the Supreme Court ordered a fresh look. Here is what changed, what didn't, and what New York families should actually watch for next.

The Playbook

Simone P. Jul 3, 2026

The Blueprint Nobody Voted On: Four Structural Shifts Rewriting the Classroom

Four uncoordinated policy shifts, on reading instruction, phone bans, school funding, and the diploma itself, are quietly rewriting New York's public classrooms. Here is what is real, what is still unresolved, and what families should actually track.

Dr. Betty A. Rosa and Dr. Jeffrey Matteson

News & Updates

Justin G. Jul 2, 2026

Latest Update on New York's Upcoming Diploma Change

New York's next diploma overhaul was announced through a personal letter to teachers. Here is what the competency-based diploma actually changes, and when it affects your child.

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