Melissa Aviles-Ramos set to present at our website's Education in New York conference
New York City Public Schools are prioritizing several key initiatives and goals to support the well-being, inclusivity, and career readiness of students. These initiatives focus on social-emotional support, safety, and technology integration.
Social-Emotional Support
The city is investing in social workers as part of a broader focus on supporting vulnerable students. This includes the newly created Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning, which emphasizes multi-language learners and students with disabilities. Additionally, community schools and arts education are being supported to foster well-being and resilience among students. The initiative NYCPS Cares, launched by Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, aims to provide social-emotional support for students in addition to academic work.
Safety
A major recent initiative is the adoption of a distraction-free schools policy, which involves bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions enacted statewide, including NYC, for the 2025-26 school year. This policy aims to enhance student focus and learning by limiting device-related distractions during instructional time.
Technology Integration
While specific classroom technology goals were not detailed, investments in literacy and math initiatives (including the “NYC Reads” literacy program and “NYC Solves” math initiative) are underway. Upgrades to school buildings to create healthier learning environments and the expansion of specialized programs indicate a broader commitment to improving educational settings. The hiring of 3,700 new teachers to reduce class sizes aims to support individualized instruction, which may be enhanced by appropriate technology use.
The team is working closely with principals, superintendents, and vendors to ensure the right supplemental programs and intervention programs are available. The goal is to prepare students not just as consumers of technology, but as producers, enhancing their innovation and creativity. The AI Advisory Council, launched by Chancellor David Banks, will be reconvened to discuss a four-part framework for AI and other technologies. This framework includes ensuring responsiveness, responsible use, preparing students for technology careers, and increasing productivity in the classroom for teachers.
Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos will be delivering a keynote speech at City & State's "Education in New York: Shaping Tomorrow's Schools Through Innovation" summit next Thursday. The team aims to use technology to help teachers manage their workload more efficiently, allowing them to focus on differentiated instruction and formative assessment. The most recent screener data indicates that the work on New York City Reads and New York City Solves is moving in the right direction.
The concern is that the technologies used in classrooms should be worthy of students' time, standards-aligned, and have an impact. The responsiveness part of the framework focuses on cultural responsiveness and support for the diverse ethnic backgrounds and identities in New York City. This work was initiated a few years ago and was considered important to Mayor Adams and Chancellor David Banks. NYC Schools are excited to increase technological access for students, including hardware and tools that support learning.
Overall, NYC Public Schools are focusing on integrated strategies that promote mental well-being, inclusivity, and career readiness, with partnerships across education, health, and workforce development sectors to support holistic student growth.
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