Important Announcements

Literacy for All 

Invest $49M in FY22, $20M in FY23, and $20M in FY24 

Literacy and reading are absolutely fundamental to children’s ability to reach important milestones all along the educational journey. Our goal is to have every student reading on grade level by the end of 2^nd grade. 

• Teachers will use a tool to identify strengths and challenges at the beginning of the year, and develop support plans tailored to their specific needs.
• Thousands of teachers in these grades will receive extra training to support literacy.
• 140 more teachers will be hired to reduce class sizes at 72 elementary schools with the specific goal of improving reading proficiency.
• We will bring the number of reading coaches in our successful Universal Literacy coaching program to 500 so every early childhood and K-2 classroom has one.
• In addition to the $49 million investment, we will give schools funding for targeted supports for students, such as extended day, and enrichment activities.

Devices for Digital Citizens 

Invest $122M in FY22, $118M in FY23, and $118M in FY24 

This September, we will build on what we have learned about the benefits of technology. Students will develop digital skills to prepare them for the new economy. 

• We will distribute an additional 175,000 devices so every K-12 student who needs one has access to one.
• We will launch an eighth-grade technology project for students to demonstrate their digital literacy skills.
• We will train 5,000 K-12 teachers to teach computer science coursework. 
• We will expand Computer Science for All, to support computational thinking, problem-solving, and digital skills for 400,000 students by 2024.

Special Education Investments 

Invest $251M in FY22, $98M in FY23 and $97M in FY24 

The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our students with disabilities. The Academic Recovery Plan will make every resource available to better support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), from our youngest learners to students preparing for graduation:  

• We will launch afterschool and Saturday programs for students with IEPs to receive additional instruction and related services.
• We will add 800 Special Education Pre-K seats and expand Committees on Preschool Special Education to review more IEP requests.
• We will provide eligible students ages 21+ with either continued instruction toward their diploma or other credential, or consultation about plans for college and career readiness.
• We will also continue to provide family workshops and information sessions through our Beyond Access Series, which supports families of students with disabilities by providing sessions on topics related to special education.

College and Career Ready 

Invest $10M in FY22, $10M in FY23 and $10M in FY24 

Especially as our students heal from the pandemic, we need to make sure they are better prepared for the next step in life, whether it’s college or career. 

• We will deliver free, personalized college counseling for every junior and senior after school so that every student has a post-graduation plan. This includes launching Student Success Centers for 34 high schools.
• We will offer Universal College Financial Aid Guidance in multiple languages, to help navigate the application process.
• We will add new Advanced Placement or College Now courses so tens of thousands more students have access to college-level coursework.

Universal Mosaic Curriculum 

Invest $202M in FY22, $202M in FY23, and $91M in FY24 

Children are more engaged in class when they can see themselves in their lessons and materials. We are committed to reflecting the city’s “beautiful mosaic” of cultures and histories in curriculum. 

• Schools will receive an infusion of books that reflect the variety of histories, languages, and experiences that make up the city.
• The DOE will begin work on universal, rigorous, and inclusive English Language Arts (ELA) and Math curricula that will be shared by New York City’s 1,600 schools and one million students. It will be built on investments in literacy and will challenge students to move beyond their academic comfort zones.
• The DOE will begin developing brand new support materials for ELA, Math, Arts and more, developed by New York City educators for New York City students.

More Support for Multilingual Learners 

Multilingual learners (MLs) and immigrant families are valued and supported at DOE. Captured within the investments above are culturally responsive supports that give students and their families equitable access to resources and opportunities that help students succeed inside and outside the classroom. 

• We will establish Immigrant Ambassador Programs across 30 high schools to match immigrant DOE students with college students for mentorship.
• Schools will be provided resources to purchase print and digital books in students’ home languages, and build home language libraries.
• We will provide teachers with training that is specific to the language needs of multilingual learners and immigrant students.
• We will conduct wellness checks and deliver social-emotional learning support to multilingual learners, particularly in transitioning to full time in-person learning.
• We will expand the Postsecondary Readiness for ELLs Program (PREP), to be facilitated by a select group of school counselors and educators. 

Additional Items for Fall 2021 

Social-Emotional Support 

Children in every community are carrying trauma from the COVID-19 pandemic. A successful academic recovery can only happen when the emotional and mental health needs of students are also addressed. 

• Every student from 3K to grade 12 will participate in a social-emotional screening. That way, staff can identify students in need and quickly match them with help. Screening isn’t a test—it’s a tool for educators to use that will help them understand your child’s needs.
• We will hire over 500 new social workers so that your child’s school has a social worker or school-based mental health clinic.
• We will add over 130 new community schools to provide expanded social, emotional, academic, and extracurricular services in communities where they’re most needed.