Dear New Yorker,
I wanted to share some important news and information for students and their families.
If you have any questions or comments about the items below, please don't hesitate to contact me at cquinn@council.nyc.gov.
Thanks, always, for your commitment to our city's schools!
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
High School Admissions Process
Last Friday was match day for New York City eighth graders applying to high school.
I know this is a time filled with emotion and anticipation for families across the City, and I hope everyone is happy with the results of the match.
More information about the first round of high school admissions can be found on the NYC Department of Education's (DOE) website at http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/High/default.htm. Families can also contact their child's guidance counselor for additional info.
For those who didn't receive a match in Round 1, there are still many great options around the City with available seats. In fact, the DOE will be doing a second round of high school admissions this April where families can apply to new high schools opening in September 2013, new programs opening in existing schools (that weren't available in Round 1), and other programs with available seats.
Below are some helpful tools and information regarding the Round 2 admissions process:
- A list of schools and programs that have 9th grade seats available can be found at http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8A74D116-5C07-4AA1-8B95-CDD94E75806E/0/2013Grade9HighSchoolRound2ProgramList_031513.pdf; and a list of new schools and programs opening in 2013 can be found at http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A5A39239-828B-4431-891A-1A288C1AF9D2/0/2013DirectoryofNewSchoolsandPrograms.pdf.
- Students and their families can learn more about their Round 2 options at an upcoming fair scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 6th and 7th, from 11 am to 2 pm each day, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus, located at 122 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Additional information can be accessed by reading the 2012-2013 New York City High School Directory, which is available on the DOE's website at http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/High/Publications/default.htm.
- InsideSchools provides a written review of almost every public school in New York City and their newest tool, InsideStats, has comprehensive data on 422 public high schools. With this free resource, families will be able to see at a glance how big a school's classes are, whether students enter 9th grade ready to do high school (or have lots of catching up to do), and whether the school offers demanding college prep classes (or only a bare-bones curriculum). M information on InsideStats is available on their website at http://insideschools.org/blog/item/1000604-inside-stats-a-new-way-to-judge-high-schools.
- InsideSchools also released a list of recommendations for high schools that still have room. That list is available on their website at http://www.insideschools.org/blog/item/1000606-our-picks-high-schools-that-still-have-room.
Additional information about Round 2 High School Admissions, including a list of schools and programs that still have 10th grade seats available, can be found on the DOE's website at http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/High/Round2. Round 2 applications are due to students' guidance counselors by Friday, April 12, 2013.
Calling for Fairer Tuition Policies for NYC Families
Last week I called on the City's Catholic and private high schools to make tuition deposits refundable for New York families who are waiting to hear about admission to public school.
In recent years, the DOE has worked to ensure that public high school admissions are completed by February – in time for parents to decide on a public or private school before a hefty registration deposit is required for a private school. This year, however, the process was delayed due to Hurricane Sandy. As a result, many families didn't find out until last Friday (March 15th) if their children got into the public high school of their choice.
In light of the storm, I believe that the fair thing for the City's Catholic and independent schools to do is to make registration deposits refundable. Failing to do so could cost families across this city thousands of dollars, even if they learned today that their child was accepted to a public school that better meets the needs of their family. Parents across the City are working their hardest to do right for their children – and they shouldn't be penalized for trying to give their children the option of a high school that meets their needs.
We have received assurances from the Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York and the Archdiocese of New York that their schools will make every effort to be flexible with parents, so parents should confidently reach out to schools in the coming days if they need their deposit back.
Immigration Town Hall Next Thursday, March 28th
Families across New York and the nation are increasingly facing insurmountable obstacles in their pursuit of the American dream because of a broken immigration system and the hurdles of higher education.
Our leaders in Albany and Washington DC must act now and provide comprehensive immigration reform that will not only protect the immigrant communities that make our city, state and nation great, but also afford them the opportunities to fully realize their dreams.
The NYC Council will be co-sponsoring an Immigration Town Hall next Thursday, March 28th, from 12 pm to 2:00 pm atThe Little Theater at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center of LaGuardia Community College, located at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. (Please use the community entrance located on Van Dam Street between Thompson Street and 47th Avenue.)
We will be joined by various elected officials and advocates for immigration reform from across the City and State and invite you to join us as we discuss immigration reform and the importance of access to education for all students, regardless of their status.
We look forward to meeting you and to hearing your comments and concerns on this important issue.
For more information, and to RSVP, please email or call Sara Valenzuela at svalenzuela@council.nyc.gov or (212) 788-7011.
Education Council Selection Process Extended
The application period for the 2013 Citywide and Community Education Council Selection Process has been extended.
The new deadline is Wednesday, March 27th.
Education Councils play a vital role in the City's public school system. As council members, parents not only advocate on behalf of their child and school community, they also participate in monthly meetings with superintendents and other education leaders where they actively address school community issues and concerns. Community Councils also vote on school zoning proposals that impact our local communities.
Parents interested in taking advantage of this exciting opportunity to help support our city's schools can apply online or submit a paper application. Additional details below:
- Apply online at www.NYCParentLeaders.org now until 11:59 p.m. on March 27.
- Download paper applications at the DOE's website or www.NYCParentLeaders.org and postmark by 11:59 p.m. on March 27.
- Paper applications are also available at the Division of Family and Community Engagement's office located at 49 Chambers Street, Room 503, New York, NY 10007.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions section on the DOE's website at http://www.nycparentleaders.org/applying.html that answers many of the questions that parents may have about applying. Parents can also call the DOE's Division of Family and Community Engagement at 212-374-4118.
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