The Center for New York City Affairs works to advance equity and access in New York City’s public schools, combining practical resources for families with research and policy analysis that can drive systemic change. Through InsideSchools, we provide independent information, school reviews, guides, workshops, and direct support that help parents understand their options, navigate school choice, and advocate for the educational opportunities and services their children need. Our Understanding FAFSA project extends that support through high school and into college.
Together, these efforts form a continuum of practical information and support—from pre-kindergarten through K-12 and on to college—while our education policy work examines the larger forces shaping opportunity. We study issues including school quality, language access, integration, admissions, chronic absenteeism, and gaps in educational opportunity, connecting what families need and experience with the policy changes needed to make NYC schools more equitable, accessible, and responsive for every child.
For nearly 20 years, InsideSchools has been a trusted source of information and insight about New York City’s education system. NYC Public Schools is the largest and one of the most complex public school systems in the nation, and families cannot take advantage of educational opportunities they do not know about, understand, or know how to navigate. This information gap is especially consequential for immigrant, low-income, and newly arrived families.
Nearly one million people use the InsideSchools website each year to find detailed, independent information about all 1,800 NYC schools. During the pandemic and the recent influx of migrant families, InsideSchools expanded its role to provide direct assistance to families facing urgent educational challenges. Today, we offer individual guidance and workshops to help families navigate everything from early childhood programs through high school, including English Language Learner services, special education, admissions, and other educational opportunities. We also work with NYC Public Schools and community partners to identify and eliminate barriers, share information, and strengthen their capacity to help students thrive.
Our short, friendly guide is designed to help you navigate the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in your quest to get financial aid for college. We know everyone has questions. Start with the guide. Get more help from the website!
Many current college-bound students are focused on career-readiness. But there are disquieting jobs trends for recent grads.
How a reform of the college aid application process that started with good intentions has, so far, fallen short.
Early childhood education and summer enrichment programs could be the biggest losers.
Successive rounds of budget cuts will hit the schools, even as the clock counts down on a costly requirement to reduce classroom sizes.
Lately, it’s been smooth sailing for New York City public schools – but the outlook is for some rough seas ahead.
The process of applying for college financial aid regularly produces freakouts and meltdowns. But there may be help on the horizon.
New FY2023 commitments at the State and City levels seek to open up access for families and support providers
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How will pandemic-forced changes alter admission to many of New York City’s most sought-after secondary schools?
A new report by the InsideSchools project of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, “Learning Equitably, Digitally, and Well,” examines how teachers, students, and parents have fared since schools switched exclusively to online learning in March. The report draws on in-depth interviews with some 37 students, teachers, parents, researchers, and others, and includes recommendations to City education policymakers for improving online or blended (combination classroom and remote) instruction in the coming school year.
The recently released admission results for next fall’s classes at New York City’s elite specialized high schools fit a racially and ethnically imbalanced pattern that has been the status quo in recent memory.
I’ve learned a lot about what it means to learn and teach with technology. Let me share some advice for parents and teachers. Forget the products. Focus on principles.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to end use of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) would make the city’s most elite public high schools more racially and ethnically diverse. The mayor’s plan would instead offer seats at the specialized high schools to the top performers in each of the city’s public middle schools. We tested this proposal and found that, if enacted, it would give some 2,000 academically qualified Black and Latinx students each year access to higher-performing schools and a more ethnically diverse cohort of fellow students than they typically have through the current school choice process.
Nearly 15% of New York City public high school students and about 18% of middle school students attend academically “screened” schools that rely on such factors as student grade point averages and standardized test scores for admission. Some educators and activists believe that screens reinforce racial and social privilege and should be abolished. “Screened Schools” addresses this subject and suggests a range of practicable strategies for increasing both diversity and educational quality in schools across the city.
Education. InsideSchools, FAFSA
