Find Your Daily Voice
Tags
Follow
News
Schools
Business
Obituaries
Police & Fire
Weather
Neighbors
Lifestyle
Politics
Sports
Events
Traffic
Legal
Real Estate
Tags
Jobs
Shop
Support Us
Follow
Find Your Daily Voice
News
Schools
Business
Obituaries
Police & Fire
Weather
Neighbors
Lifestyle
Politics
Sports
Events
Traffic
Legal
Real Estate
Readers Choice
Tags
Jobs
Shop
Support Us
Home
About us
All sites
Advertise with us
Contact us
Terms of use
Privacy policy
Code of ethics
Site Map
© 2025 Cantata Media
Tag:
Education Policy
Port Jervis, NY
Schools
Port Jervis District To Retire 'Raiders' Name To Avoid Losing State Funding: Officials
An Orange County school district has announced it will no longer use the “Raiders” name for its athletic teams following state education regulations that prohibit schools from using Native American-related team names and imagery. In a letter to the community on Wednesday, March 12, Port Jervis City School District Superintendent John J. Bell confirmed the decision, stating that the district will not select a new team name at this time. The "Raiders" name and mascot logo will be dropped as of Monday, June 30, Bell wrote. In his letter, Bell explained several reasons b…
Berlin, CT
Politics
Trump Moves To Dismantle Education Department With Executive Order
In a striking shift in policy, President Trump is poised to issue an executive order on Thursday, March 6, that could lead to the dissolution of the Education Department. According to sources familiar with the matter, this directive will task Education Secretary Linda McMahon with initiating the necessary steps to close the department, asserting that federal control over learning has faltered. The draft order, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, articulates a resolute stance: “The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars — and the unacco…
Saratoga Springs, NY
Politics
Trump Wants To Shut Education Department: Here's Why, What It Means
President Donald Trump says he's considering an executive order to dismantle the functions of the US Department of Education, aiming to eventually abolish the agency. This move aligns with his administration's broader strategy to decrease the federal government's size and return control of education policy to the states. The proposed executive order would maintain only those functions required by statute within the department, while other programs would be transferred to different agencies. An agency can't be abolished without Congressional approval. This reflects Trump's campaign pr…
Stony Point, NY
Schools
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…
Scotch Plains-Fanwood, NJ
Schools
Watch: Scotch Plains Teacher Surprised With 'Oscars Of Teaching' Award
Students, teachers, and community leaders gathered at a New Jersey Middle School Thursday, Nov. 14, expecting a standard visit from New Jersey Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. But the assembly at Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School took an exciting twist when Dr. Jane Foley of the Milken Educator Awards took the stage to reveal that fifth-grade teacher Emily Litz was New Jersey’s only recipient of the 2024-25 Milken Educator Award, often referred to as the "Oscars of Teaching." Along with the honor, Litz received an unrestricted $25,000 prize and made hi…
Yonkers, NY
Schools
Yonkers To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools
A city in Westchester is committing millions of dollars toward putting air conditioning in all of its school buildings to help students deal with rising temperatures. In an announcement on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Superintendent Aníbal Soler, Jr. revealed that $5.8 million in capital funding would be spent on air-conditioning in the city's 39 public school buildings over the next three years. The initiative is part of an effort to improve all aspects of the school experience for the city's students, Spano and Soler said. "Investing in the…
Albany, NY
Politics
Too Traumatic? School Lockdown Drills Would Be Reduced Under NY Bill
Some New York state lawmakers want to reduce the number of school lockdown drills that are held each year over concerns they could be harmful to students’ mental health. A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon would cut back the number of required lockdown drills from four per year to two. Schools would still have the option of conducting more drills if they chose to. The legislation would also mandate that school drills be conducted in a “trauma-informed, developmentally age-appropriate manner,” and would permit parents to opt their children ou…
Mount Pleasant, NY
Schools
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…
Glen Burnie, MD
Schools
Maryland School District 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, NJ
News
'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…
Albany, NY
Schools
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…
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Schools
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 …
Greenburgh, NY
Politics
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…
Pleasantville, NY
Schools
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…
Greenwich, CT
News
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. …
Pelham, NY
Schools
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…
Hartford, CT
Police & Fire
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…
Hartford, CT
News
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. …
Stamford, CT
Schools
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 …
Newark, NJ
News
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, NJ
Schools
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…
Somers, NY
Schools
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…
Armonk, NY
Schools
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…
Darien, CT
Schools
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 …
New Rochelle, NY
Schools
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, NY
Schools
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…
Norwalk, CT
Schools
Norwalk High School Students Launch Petition Protesting GPA Calculation
More than 455 people have signed the petition Request an Equitable GPA/Ranking System at Norwalk High School started by Norwalk High School Senior Chaz Bethel-Brescia as of Friday morning May 18. The point of it? To have the Norwalk Board of Education re-examine how grade point average (GPA) is calculated at Norwalk High School. A good GPA is something high school students strive for and can make the difference when it comes to college acceptance and especially to class standing. In March, Norwalk High changed the way it calculates GPA by giving members of its Norwalk Early College Academ…
Armonk, NY
Politics
Sex And The State House? Cynthia Nixon Announces Cuomo Primary Challenge
Is Nixon the one? That remains to be seen, but actress Cynthia Nixon, who starred in the HBO hit show “Sex and the City,” officially announced on Monday that she is launching a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the 2018 gubernatorial race in New York. "Together, we can win this fight," Nixon said on her newly launched website, CynthiaforNewYork.com. Nixon announced her candidacy on Twitter, in a post that included a link to a two-minute video which ends with her aboard the train, with the last words spoken being, "Next Stop: Albany." "I’m runnin…
