By: Janet Howard With the 2025–26 school year underway, New York State has launched the nation’s most ambitious bell‑to‑bell smartphone ban in K–12 schools—eliminating distractions and restoring focus to classrooms statewide. This historic Distraction-Free Schools law marks a turning point in American education. Supporters say these phone-free schools help students refocus on academics and wellbeing. […]
By Anne Webster New York City stands at a pivotal moment in its educational history, facing a literacy crisis that threatens to undermine the futures of thousands of children—particularly those living in poverty. With nearly two-thirds of low-income students unable to read at grade level, the consequences stretch far beyond the classroom, fueling cycles of […]
By: Anne Webster New York City is grappling with a critical and largely underreported problem: illiteracy. Children are bound to struggle—and entire communities may stagnate—if students cannot master foundational reading skills. As a candidate in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo has introduced an ambitious 25-point education plan meant to reshape literacy […]
By: Anne Webster New York City is in the midst of a profound literacy crisis that threatens the academic and economic futures of its most vulnerable children. Nearly two-thirds of students living in poverty are unable to read at grade level, setting them on a trajectory toward lower graduation rates, limited career prospects, and diminished […]