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Education Policy

New Principal Named At Kensico School In Valhalla New Principal Named At Kensico School In Valhalla
New Principal Named At Kensico School In Valhalla An elementary school in Northern Westchester will soon have a new principal who says he is dedicated to making sure families are involved in their children's education.  Rob Schliessman has been named the new principal of the Kensico School located in Valhalla, according to Valhalla Union Free School District officials.  Schliessman will be officially appointed by the district's school board during their meeting on Tuesday, June 6, and will start on Saturday, July 1. He will be taking over the position from the longtime principal Matt Curran, who will be retiring at the end o…
Anne Arundel Schools Issues Strict Warning, Guidance For Athletic Events Following Fights Anne Arundel Schools Issues Strict Warning, Guidance For Athletic Events Following Fights
Anne Arundel Schools Issues Strict Warning, Guidance For Athletic Events Following Fights Anne Arundel County Public School officials are implementing certain new restrictions for athletic and extracurricular events following an early season rash of fights and disruptions breaking out at games. Superintendent Mark Bedell said the district is putting new rules in place that he hopes will help curtail some of the unruly behavior that has been shown by students since the school year began. Bedell cited the large number of fans attending games that could lead to outbreaks of violence and take important resources away from the event being played, as well as from police and school sta…
'Lyndhurst 18' Allowed To Walk At Graduation, Penalty For Prank Rescinded, Schools Chief Says 'Lyndhurst 18' Allowed To Walk At Graduation, Penalty For Prank Rescinded, Schools Chief Says
'Lyndhurst 18' Allowed To Walk At Graduation, Penalty For Prank Rescinded, Schools Chief Says UPDATE: Lyndhurst Schools Supt. Joseph A. DeCorso announced that a group of high school seniors who staged a harmless prank earlier this week can walk at graduation Wednesday night. The schools chief had banned 18 seniors from walking at the scheduled 7:30 p.m. graduation, igniting a firestorm that eventually led him to rescind it. "This morning the administration met with parents of students involved with the high school prank incident," DeCorso said shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. "As a result of the discussions had, an amicable resolution was reached between the parties. "Details c…
SUNY To Officially Recognize Students' Chosen Names, Pronouns SUNY To Officially Recognize Students' Chosen Names, Pronouns
SUNY To Officially Recognize Students' Chosen Names, Pronouns The State University of New York (SUNY) will begin officially recognizing students’ chosen names and pronouns. It comes after the university’s Board of Trustees directed all 64 SUNY campuses to update their policies “to ensure that transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary students’ identities are fully reflected and represented in campus systems.” By the time classes begin in the Fall 2023 semester, campuses will have to ensure that all operational systems reflect a student’s chosen name and pronouns as long as it’s consistent with federal law, according to a SUNY statement. Tha…
This NJ High School Is Starting Later So Students Can Catch More Z's This NJ High School Is Starting Later So Students Can Catch More Z's
This NJ High School Is Starting Later So Students Can Catch More Z's Students attending one New Jersey high school next year will soon have an extra 40 minutes of shut-eye before starting their first class, thanks to a new proposal from state lawmakers. Chatham High School’s starting time will be pushed back from 7:40 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. for the 2022-23 school year, according to a letter sent to parents from Schools Superintendent Michael LaSusa. The change also affects the other schools in the district, aside from Chatham Middle School, which will keep its starting time of 7:55 a.m., LaSusa said. A new proposal from state lawmakers is asking for high school …
New Poll Reveals What NYers Think Of Hochul's Job Performance So Far New Poll Reveals What NYers Think Of Hochul's Job Performance So Far
New Poll Reveals What NYers Think Of Hochul's Job Performance So Far Despite just weeks in office, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who succeeded former Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he resigned in scandal, has a positive favorability rating among New Yorkers, according to a brand-new poll. The Siena College poll, released Tuesday, Sept. 14, found Hochul was viewed favorably by 42 percent of voters and unfavorably by 17 percent; with 41 percent still undecided. By 52-18 percent, voters say Hochul has a more collaborative approach to government leadership than her predecessor, and they say it’s exciting to have New York’s first woman governor by a 74-16 margin.  I…
High School Under Fire For Altering Yearbook Photos Of 80 Female Students High School Under Fire For Altering Yearbook Photos Of 80 Female Students
High School Under Fire For Altering Yearbook Photos Of 80 Female Students Officials at a high school in Florida are in hot water after being caught altering the yearbook photos of dozens of female students to make them appear to be showing less skin. At least 80 female students at Bartram Trail High School in St. Johns, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville, had their photos altered, according to a report by NBC affiliate WTLV in Jacksonville, which reviewed the yearbook photos. The photos showed the students' clothing was digitally cut and pasted over what would have been exposed skin. The alterations have led to backlash from parents and rights groups who are…
Lamont Names Acting Education Commissioner Lamont Names Acting Education Commissioner
Lamont Names Acting Education Commissioner Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has named a replacement for former Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, who was approved by the Senate to join President Joe Biden’s Cabinet this week. Lamont announced this week that he has accepted the recommendation of the Connecticut State Board of Education to appoint Charlene Russell-Tucker to serve as acting commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education. Cardona officially resigned on Tuesday, March 2 following his appointment by the U.S. Senate to be the country’s Education Secretary, and Russell-Tucker was appointed the following day. …
COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening
Covid-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening With President Joe Biden seeking to open all elementary and middle schools for in-person learning within his first 100 days in office, the CDC has provided new guidance on getting students back into the classroom. The CDC is now saying that it is possible to return to the classroom without fully vaccinating all educators beforehand. “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday, Feb. 3. "Vaccination of teachers is not…
Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing For CT Commissioner Named By Biden To Be Education Secretary Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing For CT Commissioner Named By Biden To Be Education Secretary
Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing For CT Commissioner Named By Biden To Be Education Secretary Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona appeared before the Senate’s education committee on Wednesday, Feb. 3 for a confirmation hearing after being nominated to serve as the United States' Education Secretary by President Joe Biden. Cardona, a lifelong Meriden resident, was announced as a choice to join Biden’s Cabinet as Education Secretary in late December. If nominated, the 45-year-old Cardona will be tasked with overseeing one of Biden’s key goals for his first 100 days by re-opening the majority of the nation’s elementary and middle schools for in-person learning. Before d…
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support The Connecticut Educational Association has issued its annual report card on members of the state House and Senate - and the grades seem to have fallen along party lines. The CEA, which lobbies for educational funding and reform, gave Democrats high marks for their work on education issues and reserved the bottom end of the spectrum for Republicans. In all, out of Connecticut's 187 state politicians, 37 earned 'A's and 51 received 'F's. The annual report card considers whether legislators were supportive of education funding, unions, professional development, standards, and school safety. …
Around Fairfield Schools: Webinar For Parents To Talk Of Race; Meet New Principal, HR Director Around Fairfield Schools: Webinar For Parents To Talk Of Race; Meet New Principal, HR Director
Around Fairfield Schools: Webinar For Parents To Talk Of Race; Meet New Principal, HR Director You can't shield your children from the recent acts of racism and violence that followed the death of George Floyd, but what do you say to them? A pop-up webinar to address these is being hosted by Stamford Public School to assist parents in having these conversations. The webinar on Friday, June 5 at 5 p.m. will give "strategies for speaking with children about race and traumatic events," said Associate Superintendent for School Development  Olympia A. Della Flora. "Watching news stories related to George Floyd has left us all speechless. It is unbelievable that in 2020 we must …
Murphy Orders Parks Closed, Waives Testing For Students Murphy Orders Parks Closed, Waives Testing For Students
Murphy Orders Parks Closed, Waives Testing For Students New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy closed all parks and waived school testing -- with schools closed indefinitely -- in a series of executive orders signed Tuesday. UPDATE: A previous version of this story incorrectly said schools were closed for the rest of the year. The four orders extended the public health emergency declared on March 9, shut all state and county parks, extended deadlines for school boards operating in an April timeframe and waived assessments. The 13,000 current high school students will not have to submit portfolio appeal or complete mandated exams in order to graduate …
Ridgewood Mom: HS Teacher Offered Students Extra Credit For Money, Report Says Ridgewood Mom: HS Teacher Offered Students Extra Credit For Money, Report Says
Ridgewood Mom: HS Teacher Offered Students Extra Credit For Money, Report Says A Ridgewood mom came forward at a recent Board of Education meeting saying a teacher at the public high school offered students extra credit only if they purchased a $20 ticket to a fundraiser, CBS reports. The teacher -- who was not named -- sent an announcement to the class and told students to forward their receipts for proof, the media outlet says. Superintendent Daniel Fishbein told CBS he is investigating the incident. Tretola said the teacher later denied her child the opportunity to do extra credit work, saying it was too late in the semester, CBS said. The concerned mom asked the…
New York Abandons Use Of Student Tests In Teacher Evaluations New York Abandons Use Of Student Tests In Teacher Evaluations
New York Abandons Use Of Student Tests In Teacher Evaluations Teacher evaluations will no longer be tied to student’s standardized test scores under a bill that was approved by state legislators. Four years ago, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a highly contested bill into law that linked student’s test scores to teacher evaluations. The legislation quickly came under fire and was contested by both parents and educators. The 2015 bill led to approximately 18 percent of students statewide opting out of standardized testing in grades 3 through 8. Now, Cuomo is poised to sign a new bill backpedaling those measures. New York joins a growing coalition of…
Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students
Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students A school district in Westchester may be spending millions of dollars to educate students that are improperly enrolled in the school by using false addresses, according to a report by CBS New York. Toward the end of the last school year, New Rochelle School District officials announced that they would be re-registering each of the district’s 10,700 students, though they were forced to amend their initial plan to give themselves “a more realistic timetable to complete the (task).” According to the CBS report, a consultant involved in the residency verification who has verified enrollment…
Vote Now: Parents' Ban From Joining Kids For Lunch At Darien Elementary Schools Sparks Debate Vote Now: Parents' Ban From Joining Kids For Lunch At Darien Elementary Schools Sparks Debate
Vote Now: Parents' Ban From Joining Kids For Lunch At Darien Elementary Schools Sparks Debate A local school district has sparked a heated debate after banning parents from having lunch with some of its youngest students. The Darien School District has made national news following an announcement proclaiming that parents and guardians are no longer permitted to visit their students at elementary school cafeterias for lunch. The practice had become popular for some parents, who would make their way on and off campus at lunchtime. Since the announcement was made by interim Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, it has garnered much debate on both sides of the issue, with some parents …
Hit The Brakes: New Rochelle Schools Evaluating Student Re-Registration Hit The Brakes: New Rochelle Schools Evaluating Student Re-Registration
Hit The Brakes: New Rochelle Schools Evaluating Student Re-Registration The New Rochelle School District is hitting the brakes on its scheduled re-registration process for students following letters from the New York State Education Department. Toward the end of the school year, officials announced that they would be re-registering each of the district’s 10,700 students, though they were forced to amend their initial plan to give themselves “a more realistic timetable to complete the (task). In a letter to New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Brian Osborne, New York State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said that the district’s re-registration p…
Mount Vernon Schools Expands Uniform Policy Mount Vernon Schools Expands Uniform Policy
Mount Vernon Schools Expands Uniform Policy Mount Vernon students will be sporting a new look districtwide come September following a parent’s push to adopt a new policy on school uniforms. Following a districtwide survey that was disseminated to district families and the PTA last year, the Board of Education unanimously approved a new policy, which will “allow schools in the district to mandate students wear uniforms if they present certification to the Board.” During the next academic year, the uniform policy will be expanded and implemented in the District’s reconfigured Pre K-7 and Pre K-8 buildings, as well as the new AB Davis S…