The Definitive Guide to New York Education & Parenting

a teacher working with students at their desks

Justin G. May 29, 2026

NY Tier 6 Reform: What It Means for Teachers & Schools

New York's 2026 state budget cuts the Tier 6 teacher retirement age from 63 to 58 and lowers pension contribution rates for over 830,000 public employees. Here's what it means for classrooms, educators, and taxpayers across the state.

New York State public school board meeting

News & Updates

Justin G. May 29, 2026

Should Your Community Have a Vote Before a Charter School Opens? A New Bill Says Yes

Two new New York State bills would require public hearings and a community vote before any charter school can open, expand, or renew. Here's what the legislation means for school budgets and families across the state.

An elementary school classroom in New York City with young students working on math problems

News & Updates

Justin G. May 28, 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Is Overhauling How NYC Kids Learn Math

Mayor Mamdani is expanding NYC Solves, the city's math initiative, into elementary schools for the first time across four districts this fall. Here's what the $17.3 million overhaul means for your child's classroom.

A wide-angle photograph of a New York State public school building exterior

News & Updates

Justin G. May 28, 2026

The White House Is Sitting on $2 Billion for Schools - Here's What That Means for New York

The White House is withholding more than $2 billion in congressionally approved education funding. New York State has already lost access to $463 million in school grants. Here's what families and educators need to know.

News & Updates

Justin G. May 26, 2026

The Pope Says AI Is Threatening Critical Thinking While Our Schools Try to Figure it Out

Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical warns that AI is eroding critical thinking. New York schools are still sorting out how to respond, and the stakes for students couldn't be higher.

News & Updates

Justin G. May 25, 2026

What New York Schools Are (and Aren't) Teaching About Memorial Day

New York State has a veterans speaker program, a civic readiness framework, and 700 school districts. So why do so many students leave for Memorial Day weekend without ever learning what the holiday actually means?

News & Updates

Justin G. May 22, 2026

New York Schools Support Staff Are Barely Getting By

New York school classroom aides, teacher assistants, lunch monitors, and clerical staff are earning wages that fall far below the state's own cost of living benchmarks. As Jeff Bezos calls for zero federal income taxes on the bottom half of earners, a look at the numbers reveals just how badly New York's school support workforce has been left behind.

School Bus Autumn drive through New York countryside

News & Updates

Justin G. May 21, 2026

NY's Zero-Emission Bus Mandate Delayed Five Years

New York State has delayed its zero-emission bus mandate by five years, moving the 2027 purchase deadline to 2032 and full fleet conversion from 2035 to 2040. Here is what families, school districts, and communities across New York need to understand about the health, policy, and accountability stakes.

News & Updates

Justin G. May 20, 2026

NY School Budget Vote Results: Who Passed and Who Failed

Most New York school budgets passed on May 19, 2026, but several districts including AuSable Valley, Ogdensburg, Stamford, Prattsburgh, Spencerport, and Lyndonville saw their spending plans rejected. Here's what happened and what comes next.

The Playbook

Justin G. May 20, 2026

Academic ROI: Student Wellbeing in NYC's Digital Classrooms

Explore the hidden costs of "always-on" learning in NYC schools. This guide examines academic ROI, student wellbeing, and how New York families can balance educational technology with essential social-emotional growth.

Modern classroom vs underfunded classroom

The Playbook

Justin G. May 19, 2026

A Statewide Guide: Where Does New York School Money Actually Go?

New York spends $89 billion on public schools statewide, yet many districts still face cuts and shortfalls. Here is exactly how school money flows across New York, from Foundation Aid and property taxes to per-pupil spending gaps between rich and poor districts.

Community Voices

Justin G. May 18, 2026

Why Low-Income NYC Neighborhoods Always Feel the Heat Hardest

A heat advisory is in effect for all five NYC boroughs through Wednesday. But in low-income communities from the South Bronx to Central Brooklyn, extreme heat has always hit harder and hurt more. Here's why, and what families need to know right now.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Is Overhauling How NYC Kids Learn Math

New York Schools Support Staff Are Barely Getting By

NY School Budget Vote Results: Who Passed and Who Failed

The Standard NY Resource Center