Public News Service

At least one-third of schools are fully accessible in eleven of New York City's 32 community school districts. Once the projects currently in the pipeline are done, at least one-third of schools will be disability accessible. (Adobe Stock)

NYC public schools still not fully ADA compliant

Although classes are back in session, all New York City public schools still aren't entirely disability accessible. Reports find more than two …

Al menos un tercio de las escuelas son totalmente accesibles en once de los 32 distritos escolares comunitarios de la ciudad de Nueva York. Una vez que se completen los proyectos actualmente en tr�mite, al menos un tercio de las escuelas ser�n accesibles para discapacitados. (Adobe Stock)

Escuelas públicas de NYC aún no cumplen plenamente con la ADA

Aunque las clases han vuelto a estar en sesión, todas las escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Nueva York todavía no son completamente …

Enacting the Good Food NY bill could help the 139 black-owned farms in New York state have better access to procurement contracts since it eliminates poor access to information about opportunities to compete for institutional food contracts. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill implements value-based standards for food procurement

A New York bill would change food procurement laws for municipal institutions. The Good Food New York Act would allow municipal institutions to use …

New York is facing a shortage of 180,000 teachers, which will only grow due to a steep retirement cliff the state faces in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

NY teachers union launches pro-public education campaign

New York's United Federation of Teachers union is launching a campaign to bolster public education. It comes as public schools' role as a social …

The number of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school remained the same before and after the pandemic at 42%, which is lower than the national average of 54%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY kids’ pandemic-era education troubles persist

A new report found New York kids' well-being is improving despite lingering pandemic issues. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

Some 37% of New York foster care kids are being placed in family-based care than in previous decades, when the majority would have been placed in a group home. (Adobe Stock)

NY legislation would end parents paying for foster care

A bill in the New York State Legislature could alter how the foster care system operates in the state by ending the requirement for parents to pay for…

A University of Washington report showed more than 2 million New York households struggle to get by on their earnings alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill establishes tax credit to help struggling families

A proposed bill would help New York families struggling with the high cost of living. The Working Families Tax Credit bill combines the Empire State …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's 'Back to Basics' plan proposed $10 million in state investments to train 20,000 teachers in Science of Reading best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Hochul’s State of State proposals need funding to become reality

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State initiatives are ambitious for the state's future. The focus now is on how to make them a reality…

Despite middling scores for how immigrant students feel in school, a YouthTruth/Re-Imaging Migration survey finds most immigrant children enjoy school and feel prepared for college level courses. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Immigrant students feel invisible to teachers and peers

A new survey found immigrant students need better help in school. The YouthTruth, Re-Imagining Migration survey was designed to examine the …

A pesar de los puntajes mediocres sobre c�mo se sent�an los estudiantes inmigrantes en la escuela, una encuesta de YouthTruth/Re-Imaging Migration encontr� que la mayor�a de los ni�os migrantes disfrutan la escuela y se sienten preparados para cursos de nivel universitario. (Adobe Stock)

Estudiantes inmigrantes se sienten invisibles ante profesores y compañeros

Una nueva encuesta muestra que los estudiantes inmigrantes necesitan más ayuda en la escuela. La encuesta YouthTruth, Re-Imagining Migration fue …

The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities found New York could see a $73,239,000 reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits for people in the WIC program. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed WIC cuts could prove detrimental to NY families

Congress' proposed cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children will have significant effects on New York …

An Advocates for Children of New York report finds 454 New York City public schools are fully accessible to some people with disabilities, 263 are only partially accessible, 65 aren't fully accessible, and 547 are completely inaccessible with no plans for renovation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-Thirds of NYC Schools Not ADA Compliant

A recent report finds only around 31% of New York City public schools are disability accessible. The report, from Advocates for Children of New …

Seg�n un informe de Advocates for Children of New York, 454 colegios p�blicos de la ciudad de Nueva York est�n totalmente accesibles para algunas personas con discapacidad, 263 son parcialmente accesibles, 65 no est�n totalmente accesibles y 547 son totalmente inaccesibles sin planes de renovaci�n. (Adobe Stock)

Informe: Dos tercios de las escuelas de NY no cumplen con la ADA

Según un informe reciente, sólo alrededor del 31% de las escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Nueva York son accesibles para personas con …

In 2021, New York received $626,590,038 in federal funding for the Head Start program. (Adobe Stock)

NY Children Face Severe Impacts of Proposed Head Start Cuts

Congress is divided on how to fund the Head Start program in its upcoming appropriations bill. While the Senate is keen on investing more money for …

A 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds 74% of all kids in New York foster care are

NY Family Celebrates National Sisters Day

Sunday is National Sisters Day, and a New York family is celebrating the coming together of their two children - soon to be three. Merriah Kenneally …

A proposed bill calls for an 80% ($14.7 Billion) cut to Title 1 grants for states with schools where children from low-income families comprise 40% of enrollment. Since $31 billion in pandemic funds hasn't been spent, further investments aren't being provided until they're spent responsibly. (Adobe Stock)

New Campaign Aims to Bolster Public Education in NY, US

A new campaign aims to bolster public education and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers' Real Solutions for Kids and Communities …

Un proyecto de ley propuesto exige un recorte del 80 % ($14 700 millones) a las subvenciones del T�tulo 1 para los estados con escuelas donde los ni�os de familias de bajos ingresos representan el 40 % de la inscripci�n. Dado que no se han gastado $31 mil millones en fondos para la pandemia, no se proporcionar�n m�s inversiones hasta que se gasten de manera responsable. (Adobe Stock)

Nueva campaña tiene como objetivo reforzar educación pública en Nueva York

Una nueva campaña tiene como objetivo reforzar la educación pública y el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. La campaña Soluciones …

An Economic Policy Institute Report finds child care in New York is the sixth most expensive in the United States, at a cost of $15,394 a year, or $1,283 a month. This means infant care costs almost $7,500 more than in-state tuition at a four-year public college. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Sees Mixed Results for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in New York has fluctuated over the last year, a recent annual report finds. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

Mental Health America's 2023 State of Mental Health found 214,000 New York children, about 16.03%, experienced at least one major depressive episode, an increase of 35,000 or 2.74% from 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: More Support Needed to Improve Youth Mental Health

Parents in New York and across the U.S. want to see schools improve kid's mental health, a recent survey found. The National PTA Survey showed 72% …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report found the number of kids entering foster care because of behavior issues has declined from 49% in 2006 to 30% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Foster Kids Need Better Support

Foster children in New York and across the nation need better transition support once they age out, according to a new report from the Annie E…

In 2022, for the first time, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended doctors screen children age 8 and older for anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

NY Works to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

With the Covid-19 public health emergency over, New York and the U.S. are dealing with a youth mental health crisis. According to Mental Health …

A 2022 report from the New York State Citizen Review Panel outlined several overhauls needed to make Child Protective Services a better functioning agency. Some recommendations include reducing unnecessary investigations of children and families, and reducing harmful practices during investigations. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

NY Bill Requires Court Order for CPS Investigations

A bill in the New York state Legislature would implement new standards for Child Protective Services. The bill requires CPS workers to get a court …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, instability in a child's life because of a parent in prison can lead to

Report: Keep Incarcerated Parents and Kids Close

A recent report from the Prison Policy Initiative calls for better state laws to keep incarcerated parents close to their kids. It finds 12 states …

According to a poll from New York State United Teachers, some other top priorities voters feel should made for education include greater access to career and technical programs for students, addressing school staffing shortages, and improving safety and security. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: NYers Oppose Proposed Charter School Increase

While most New Yorkers oppose charter schools, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to better fund them. According to the 2024 New York State Executive Budget…

According to data from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, reading scores for New York fourth graders declined by six points from 2019. Meanwhile, eighth graders' reading scores remained unchanged. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Students Still Struggle with Pandemic Learning Loss

Students are still struggling with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. A study from the research group NWEA showed 2022 test scores are not …

According to a poll by the American Federation of Teachers, 85% of those surveyed want the new Congress to focus on providing resources and support to public schools, instead of carrying our political investigations. 15% felt otherwise. (Adobe Stock)

New AFT Poll Shows Parent, Voter Priorities for Public Education

A new poll shows parents and voters want improved public education and stronger building blocks for those students. According to the poll, from the …

According to a report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, the state with the largest increase in its rate of uninsured children was Idaho, at 46%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY's Doing Well at Keeping Kids Insured

Compared to most states, New York is doing a good job of making sure children have health coverage, according to a new report. The Georgetown …

Seg�n un informe del Centro para Ni�os y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown, el estado con el mayor aumento en su tasa de ni�os sin seguro fue Idaho, con un 46%. (Adobe Stock)

Informe: Nueva York mantiene bien asegurados a los niños

En comparación con la mayoría de los estados, Nueva York está haciendo un buen trabajo para garantizar que los niños tengan …

According to a survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, only about 17% of those surveyed knew about foster care adoption. But, other findings were more hopeful: 37% of Americans have considered adopting at some point in their life, which is up 12% from 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Creating Family Not Always Easy for NYS Foster Kids

It can be a long road to finding permanent homes for kids in the New York State foster care system, but many find it worthwhile. Megan Battista is …

New York City's Administration for Children's Services has increased the number of children placed in kinship care, with family members, with 43% last year, up from 31% in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Adoption Month: Number of Kids in NYC Foster Care Shrinking

November is National Adoption Month, and New York City's foster care system is making headway in reducing the number of children in the system…

A study by the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse finds Medicaid expansion is associated with a 17.3% decline in the rate of first-time neglect reports among children age 5 and younger. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Researchers Link Medicaid Expansion to Health Benefits

New York is one of the states opting to expand Medicaid as soon as it could through the Affordable Care Act, and recent studies found a 2014 decision …

In the 2007-2008 school year, New York City was set to implement a plan to limit class sizes to 25 students by the 2011-2012 school year. However, the plan hasn't yet come to fruition. (Adobe Stock)

New Law to Cap Class Sizes in NYC Schools

Class sizes in New York City schools will be limited by 2028 - the result of a new state law. The law will cap Kindergarten through third-grade …

According to a recent survey by the American Library Association, about 71% of voters, across party lines, oppose book bans altogether. Yet, the ALA has found 1,651 different books were the target of book bans since the start of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Brooklyn Public Library Hosts 'Books UnBanned' Program

Banned Books Week continues through Saturday, and the Brooklyn Public Library has a program for teens facing book bans in their states. The Books …

According to the 2022 Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy Data Book, the use of health-care services among children covered by Medicaid and CHIP declined during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Habits Important as Kids Return to School

As kids return to school, New York parents are encouraged to ensure their kids are getting yearly checkups. According to the U.S. Health Resources …

According to a New York State Comptroller audit, out of 563 schools previously cited for not having one of the Department of Education's six mental health programs, 30% did not have a social worker. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

NY Experiencing Shortage of School Social Workers

School districts across the state of New York are facing a shortage of social workers. According to an audit by the state comptroller's office…

While the number of high school students graduating on time has risen, a new report showed early education is stunted in the state of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges More Support for NYS Early Education

Early education in New York State needs more support and better resources, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count …

Kids in 10th and 12th grades in New York City shelters had attendance rates below 70%, meaning they missed the equivalent of more than a week of school in a single month (Oct. 2021), according to a new policy brief. (Adobe Stock)

NYC Youth in Shelters Face School Attendance Challenges

New York City students in insecure housing situations continue to have alarmingly low school attendance rates, heightened by the pandemic. Youth …

According to the Pew Research Center, 60% of parents report their children begin engaging with smart devices before age five. (Adobe Stock)

Parents Urged to Set Guidelines for Kids' Tech Use

As the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed students to live more of their social lives online, advocates for internet safety are urging parents to set clear …

According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, four times as many women than men dropped out of the workforce between August and September of 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts Underway to Make More Childcare Available to New Yorkers

More than 60% of New York State is considered to be a "child-care desert." But some state initiatives could make care available to more families as th…

Signs of too much screen time range from dry, irritated eyes to difficulty sleeping, blurred vision, reduced attention span and irritability. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: New Yorkers Should Monitor Excess Screen Time, Blue-Light Exposure

Health experts are warning the public about the mental, social and physical health risks of using digital devices too much, including the possible …

New York City launched a community schools initiative in 2014. A study three years later found it had a positive impact on student attendance and credit accumulation. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers’ Union Issues Recommendations for NY Public Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has released a new report this week, with recommendations from educators about how best to …

Healthcare advocacy groups say increasing Medicaid postpartum coverage up to one year after a child's birth can help decrease maternal mortality rates, which disproportionately affect people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Build Back Better's CHIP, Medicaid Changes Support NY Families

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act will soon get a vote in the U.S. Senate, and in New York, advocates say it could mean major …

The expensive costs of child care in New York create economic hardship for some families, according to a report from the Children's Agenda. (Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Would Amplify New York's Child Care, Pre-K Investments

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act now moves to the Senate where it will face an uphill battle after passing the House Friday…

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing the virus in kids 5 to 11 years old. (Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Vaccinations, Resources Available for School-Age Kids in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a new version of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-1…

Close to one million New York City residents smoke tobacco, according to Public Health Solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY a National Leader in Increasing Smoke-Free Households

NEW YORK -- Although New York and the country as a whole saw some progress surrounding the health of children and women, a new report showed there is …

Recent Kaiser Family Foundation research shows more than 20% of parents with children ages 5 to 12 say their kids' emotional health has declined since March 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Youth Mental Health Emphasized as K-12 Schools Resume in NY

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. -- As New York schools gear up for the fall term, physical and mental well-being of kids in grades K-12 is in the forefront, …

A new Sentencing Project report finds 6% of arrests for minors are for serious or violent offenses that might pose a threat to public safety, while 56% account for property crimes, drug crimes and violations of probation. (Adobe Stock)

‘Raise the Age’ Reforms Lead to No More Youths in NY Adult Prisons

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rates of youth incarceration in adult jails and prison are down to zero since New York raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18…

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