Update for Families: Week of September 27
American Sign Language (video)
After the excitement and joy of our first couple of weeks back in school, students, staff, and families have begun to settle into our new routines and rebuild the in-person relationships that we missed so much. It’s an exciting time, but also a busy time! Learn how you can keep your children safe and support their academic success with the latest DOE Family Update, and visit School Year 2021-22 for the most current information.
Important Updates to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols
Quarantining and Classroom Closures
As of Monday, September 27, in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we will no longer close an entire classroom when there is a positive case in the classroom. Unvaccinated students who are masked and have been at least three feet distanced from a student who tests positive are not considered close contacts under CDC guidelines and will not have to quarantine. This new policy applies to all students in any grade.
Please visit Health and Safety in Our Schools for additional information and the latest on health and safety policies in NYC public schools for the 2021–22 school year.
In-School COVID-19 Testing
As of Monday, September 27, the DOE will increase random COVID-19 testing in all elementary, middle, and high schools for unvaccinated students in grades 1–12 from biweekly to weekly. Testing is absolutely essential to keeping everyone safe in our schools, and all students should participate.
We only test students whose parents have provided consent, and we strongly encourage all families to provide an updated testing consent form for the 2021–22 school year to their school. If you have not yet submitted this consent, you can do so one of two ways:
Vaccination
In partnership with the NYC Vaccine Command Center and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), all school sites serving students ages 12 and older are offering Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations to eligible individuals during the week of October 4–8 to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated and stay safe. If your child received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a school site during the first week of school, they may now receive their second dose at these sites during the first week of October. Individuals may also receive first doses at these sites during this time. Individuals who receive their first dose of the vaccine at a school site in October will be referred to a local provider for their second dose.
No appointment is needed at these sites. You can learn more about site hours from your school or by visiting COVID Information.
Vaccination is the most important step you can take to protect you and your family from COVID-19, and all New Yorkers ages 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Students ages 12 and older participating in high-risk extracurricular sports and other high-risk extracurricular activities are required to be vaccinated in order to participate in those activities during the 2021–22 school year. For more information, please visit Health and Safety in Our Schools.
If you have a child who is at least 12 years old and not yet fully vaccinated, the DOHMH and the DOE strongly encourage you to get them vaccinated as soon as possible by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. For the latest DOE vaccination information, visit COVID Information.
School Visitor Policy Reminder: All visitors who are eligible to be vaccinated must show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter a school building. Visitors do not include students attending school in a DOE building.
Department of Education (DOE) Vaccination Portal
Using your child’s DOE account information, you can upload an image of your child’s vaccination card or NYC Excelsior Pass to the DOE’s vaccine portal at vaccine.schools.nyc. Submitting that information will support New York City’s pandemic response and recovery efforts, helping to ensure that our school communities remain safe and healthy.
Supporting Academic Success
Attendance
We are proud to have reopened New York City’s classrooms to students, and it has been wonderful to see the joy in our school communities as students reunite with their teachers and classmates. The classroom is a better place when your child is in-person and at school. Research shows that attending in person makes a huge difference in student learning and their social and emotional well-being. If your child is feeling well, please make every effort to make sure they get to school each day.
Every Student, Every Day: Schools must take attendance every day to account for the presence or absence of every student. If your child is absent, your school will make a positive communication home that day by phone call, text, or email. We know that getting to school every day isn’t always easy. Through these calls, we can provide you with valuable assistance in removing the barriers to your child’s attendance. You may also call 311 for support. It is never too late to send your child to school. We are here to support you and are in this together.
Please share your correct contact information with the school by completing and returning the paper Emergency Contact Form provided by your school or updating your information in your NYC Schools Account.
Your school’s attendance policy explains what qualifies as an excused or unexcused absence, as well as specific school rules regarding lateness, leaving early, and make-up time. It will also clarify how attendance is counted on days when a student may have to quarantine or learn from home due to snow days.
For help or questions, please contact your school’s principal or parent coordinator. You may also email attendance@schools.nyc.gov.
Financial Support for College
Did you know? Families with kindergarten students in NYC public schools (including participating charter schools) citywide are now eligible to participate in the Save for College Program—no matter their income or immigration status.
The NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program provides families, schools, and communities with a way to work together to save for and invest in their children’s futures. This scholarship and savings program is designed to make college and career training more accessible for public school students by providing every child with financial assets for their educational future.
We encourage you to attend a virtual information session with NYC Kids RISE to learn how the program works, the benefits for your child, and how your family can participate. Register at nyckidsrise.org/events
- Wednesday, October 6, 6:00–7:30 p.m. (English, live Arabic & Mandarin interpretation)
- Friday, October 8, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (Spanish)
- Tuesday, October 12, 6:00–7:30 p.m. (English, live Arabic & Mandarin interpretation)
- Wednesday, October 13, 6:00–7:30pm (Spanish)
- Tuesday, October 19, 10:00–11:30am (English, live Arabic & Mandarin interpretation)
- Wednesday, October 20, 10:00–11:30am (Spanish)
- Monday, October 25, 10:00–11:30am (English, live Arabic & Mandarin interpretation)
- Wednesday, October 27, 6:00–7:00pm (Bangla)
- Wednesday, November 3, 10:00–11:30am (English, live Arabic & Mandarin interpretation)
- Monday, November 8, 6:00–7:30pm (Spanish)
A video of this informational webinar captioned in 10 languages will also be available at Parent University: parentu.schools.nyc
Supports for Students in Temporary Housing
If your child is affected by homelessness (living in a shelter or in some other temporary housing situation due to economic hardship), there are resources available through your school to help support your family and your child’s academic progress.
Every school district has a dedicated Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Regional Manager who can respond to questions and connect you to DOE and other City agency resources designed to provide no-cost benefits. These include transportation to and from school, help with enrollment and school moves, and access to programs and special opportunities. STH regional managers work directly with over 300 school- and shelter-based staff, including social workers, who are specially trained to understand the unique needs and strengths of families affected by homelessness.
Additionally, every school has a dedicated School Based STH Liaison, who can ensure students and families affected by homelessness are connected to information, resources, and benefits.
Please reach out to your school’s guidance counselor, social worker, or principal for assistance. Learn more at Students in Temporary Housing.
Update for Families from Chancellor Porter: September 20, 2021
American Sign Language (video)
It was so exciting to welcome students back in our classrooms last week, seeing the joy on their faces as they all could finally return to learn in-person with their teachers and classmates! This is a very special time, and we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone in our schools remains safe and healthy.
I invite you to share the amazing experience of that first week of school with me through this video capturing our homecoming experience across the city.
In addition to the extensive health and safety measures summarized on School Year 2021-22, we are making two important adjustments to COVID-19 protocols in our schools:
- Weekly testing. Starting Monday, September 27, the DOE will increase random COVID-19 testing in all elementary, middle, and high schools for students in grades 1-12 from biweekly to weekly. We can only test students whose parents have provided an updated testing consent form to their school. You are encouraged to provide this consent for your child if you have not done so. If you have already submitted a testing consent form for the 2021-22 school year, that consent form remains in effect. If you have not yet submitted your consent, you can do so one of two ways:
- Updated quarantine policy. Also starting Monday, September 27, in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we will no longer close an entire classroom when there is a positive case in the classroom. Unvaccinated students who are masked and at least three feet distanced from a student who tests positive are not considered close contacts under CDC guidelines and will not have to quarantine. This new policy applies to all students in any grade.
Vaccination is the most important step that we can take to protect our families and our communities against COVID-19. To protect your children and school communities, we have mandated that all DOE school staff be vaccinated against COVID-19—by September 27, all employees will have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a vaccination appointment for yourself or your eligible student aged 12 and older, please visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
We will continue to share everything we are doing to keep your children safe. Our school year back together again is already off to a fantastic start, and I look forward to seeing your students thrive and grow this year as they learn alongside their peers.
Update for Families: Week of September 13, 2021
American Sign Language (video)
We were thrilled to welcome students back to the classroom—and in-person learning—this week! It was a joyous homecoming as students, teachers, school staff, and families reconnected in schools throughout the city. We are proud to once again be serving our students in safe, healthy, supportive classrooms where they can grow socially, emotionally, and academically. Please visit School Year 2021-22: Safe and Healthy Learning for All for the most up-to-date information on the historic 2021-22 school year
Important Forms
Health Screening Tool
Before entering school buildings each day, every student and staff member must complete the Health Screening Form to confirm that they are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have not recently tested positive, and are not currently required to quarantine based on close contact with an infected person.
We recommend bookmarking healthscreening.schools.nyc on your device so you can quickly and easily complete the form before sending your child to school each day.
Submit an Updated Testing Consent Form for Your Child
In order for your child to participate in the in-school COVID testing program, you must submit an updated testing consent form to your school.
Stay Connected with the New York City Schools Account
Stay up-to-date on important announcements from the DOE, including school closures, policy updates, and events happening in your district or citywide! There is a new way for you to stay connected to your student’s education and more in the new NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) Portal. One sign-in will allow you to:
- See your student’s grades, test scores and more
- Take classes in Parent University
- Access forms for your child
- Reset your child's DOE account password
Learn more at NYC Schools Account.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing
Vaccination
Vaccination is the most important step you can take to protect you and your family from COVID-19, and all New Yorkers ages 12 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a child who is at least 12 years old and not yet fully vaccinated, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the DOE strongly encourage you to make a vaccination appointment for them as soon as possible by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. For the latest DOE vaccination information, visit COVID-19 Information.
Students ages 12 and older participating in high-risk extracurricular sports and other high-risk extracurricular activities are required to be vaccinated in order to participate in those activities during the 2021-22 school year. For more information, please visit Health and Safety in Our Schools.
School Visitor Policy Reminder: All visitors aged 12 and older must show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter a school building. Visitors do not include students attending school in a DOE building.
Department of Education (DOE) Vaccination Portal
Using your child’s DOE account information, you can upload an image of your child’s vaccination card or NYC Excelsior Pass to the DOE’s vaccine portal at vaccine.schools.nyc. Submitting that information will support New York City’s pandemic response and recovery efforts, helping to ensure that our school communities remain safe and healthy.
COVID-19 Testing in Schools
Continuing the safety measures introduced in the previous school year, we will be conducting regular COVID testing of unvaccinated students grades 1 through 12. That way, action can be taken right away to protect the school community if there’s a positive case. In order for your child to participate in the in-school testing program, you must submit an updated testing consent form for your child to your school. You can fill out the form using your NYCSA account (schoolsaccount.nyc) or download the form online at COVID-19 Testing for Students.
COVID-19 Quarantine Protocols and Remote Instruction
If There is a Positive COVID-19 Case at Your Child’s School
We know how important it is to keep our schools and classrooms open for learning, and we are committed to the health and safety of our school communities and reducing disruptions in your child’s education. There may be times when your child is asked to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19. If there is a positive case in a classroom:
- Elementary Schools: if all students in the class are instructed to quarantine, they will receive remote instruction while they quarantine (see more information in the “Remote Instruction” section below).
- Middle and High Schools: students who are at least 12 years old, vaccinated, and:
- not showing symptoms will continue to attend school in-person. These students are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test three to five days after exposure.
- showing symptoms will be directed to quarantine for 10 calendar days. These students will have access to remote learning while quarantining.
- Unvaccinated students will be directed to quarantine for 10 calendar days and will continue their learning remotely. On day five of their quarantine, students may take a COVID-19 test, and with a negative result, return to school in-person after day seven.
Schools will be closed only when it is determined by the DOHMH that there is widespread transmission in the school. With the health and safety measures in place, we expect that school closures will be limited.
Remote Instruction
In the event of an emergency school or classroom closure, whether due to health or weather-related emergencies (for example positive COVID-19 cases, or a snow day), classes will shift to remote learning for a period of time.
- When an entire classroom or school is closed, teachers will conduct lessons remotely and in real-time (synchronous instruction).
- In some cases, there may be a partial classroom closure, where only a subset of students in a classroom will be required to quarantine and others will continue to attend school in person.
- Students who are able to attend school in-person will continue to receive regular, in-person instruction.
- Students who are required to quarantine will have access to instructional materials (asynchronous) in their digital classrooms.
- Students who are required to quarantine will also be able to interact live with teachers during specified office hours. Students are not required to attend office hours and can contact their teacher with questions if they are not able to attend. During those office hours, teachers may offer individual or small group tutorials, check in on assignments, and answer students’ questions.
On Election Day—Tuesday, November 2—school buildings will be closed but students will receive remote asynchronous assignments.
Get Help
Enrollment
Still need an elementary or middle school for your child? Find your zoned school at schoolsearch.schools.nyc and contact the school directly to enroll. Don’t have a zoned school? Email ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov (for grades K–5) or MSEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov (for grades 6–8) with your child’s name, date of birth, grade, and address.
If you have not received a 3-K or pre-K offer, add your child to programs’ waitlists at MySchools.nyc; there’s no limit on how many waitlists you can join! If a program can make your child an offer, they will contact you directly.
Language Access
You have the right to receive information or communicate with your child’s school in your language. If you or someone you know needs help, tell your school’s principal or parent coordinator, call the DOE at (718) 935-2013 or email Hello@schools.nyc.gov. You can find more information and important resources, including the Parent Guide to Language Access, at NYC Public Schools Speak Your Language.
Parent Coordinator
The parent coordinator at your child’s school can help you learn more about school programs and resources, complete important forms, and work with the principal to address any concerns you may have. You can find information for your child’s school using the schoolsearch.schools.nyc tool. Contact information for the school’s parent coordinator is on each school’s page under General Information.
Technology Support
In the past year, the DOE has distributed over 500,000 digital learning devices with more on the way. Families should work with their schools to ensure their child has the device that works best for them. For information on devices, including how to get them repaired and how to return them to the DOE, please see Digital Learning Devices.
To login to DOE systems, including Zoom, Google, and other learning platforms, each student has a OneAccount4All account (DOE account). Learn more at DOE Student Accounts.
Families that need technical assistance should fill out the online form at nycenet.edu/technicalsupportforfamily or call the Help Desk at (718) 935-5100 and select option 5.
September 13, 2021: Welcome Letter to Families from Chancellor Porter
American Sign Language (video)
Welcome to the 2021–2022 school year—our long-awaited homecoming!
I am beyond excited to begin our historic return to full-time, in-person instruction—after the most challenging 18 months of our lives. This year, the first day of school means everything to me. Not only because I’m your Schools Chancellor, but because I’m also the mother of a New York City public high school student who is over the moon to return to the classroom full time.
My daughter’s experience is a living, breathing testament to what I’ve learned in more than 20 years as an educator: nothing replaces the experience between a child and a teacher in a classroom. That is why it feels like a dream come true to welcome all our children back to safe, supportive, rigorous school environments. The first day of school is a true homecoming for our school communities.
I know that COVID-19 and the Delta variant are on all our minds, and I want to be clear that the health and safety of our children, families, and school staff is our highest priority. For the last several months, we have worked with school leaders, public health experts, and union partners to develop and health and safety approach that provides multiple layers of scientifically proven prevention strategies.
We are meeting or exceeding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting surface areas in our schools, inspection and certification of ventilation in our buildings, and regular random testing of staff and students for COVID-19. We know masks work to reduce the spread of disease, and we are requiring all students and staff to wear face coverings when riding on school buses and anywhere on school property, indoors and outdoors. This is regardless of vaccination status unless students have a medical exemption.
The most important step you can take to protect you and your family from COVID-19 is vaccination. All New Yorkers ages 12 and older can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. In partnership with the NYC Test & Trace Corps and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, all school sites serving children 12 and over are offering Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations to eligible New Yorkers during the first week of school (with second doses provided at the beginning of October). No appointment is needed, and you can learn more about site hours from your school or by visiting COVID-19 Information.
You can find the most up-to-date information on how we’re working to keep students and staff healthy and safe on the DOE’s website.
I hope you are as thrilled as I am about the first day of school. You can be sure I’ll be out visiting classrooms throughout the week, welcoming back our students, families, and educators—and celebrating all we have done to get to this point.
As always, I am honored to have you at my side as we usher in our most important first day of school ever. Thank you for entrusting your children to us.
September 10, 2021: Update for Families
American Sign Language (video)
We can’t wait to welcome New York City students back to the classroom on the first day of school: Monday, September 13. Please see below for important information about the upcoming 2021-22 school year–and visit our Back to School Checklist for Families for additional suggestions on how you and your children can prepare for that special day!
Getting Ready
Health Screening Tool
Before entering school buildings each day, every student and staff member must complete the Health Screening Form to confirm that they are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have not recently tested positive, and are not currently required to quarantine based on close contact with an infected person.
We recommend bookmarking healthscreening.schools.nyc on your device so you can quickly and easily complete the form before sending your child to school each day.
Remember, if your child feels ill, do not send them to school! We want to keep your child and our school communities healthy and safe, and we must all do our part.
Stay Connected with the New York City Schools Account
Stay up to date on important announcements from the DOE and your school, including school closures and events happening in your district or citywide! With a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) account, you can update your contact information, fill out important school forms online, see your child’s grades, schedules, test scores, assigned transportation, attendance, and more. Learn more at NYC Schools Account.
Submit an Updated Testing Consent Form for Your Child
It is important that you provide consent for your child to participate in the in-school testing program. Submit your updated testing consent form for your child using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) at schoolsaccount.nyc or by downloading the form online from the COVID-19 In School Testing for Students page and providing the completed printed form to your child’s school.
Testing consent forms submitted in the previous school year expire on September 30, 2021. If you previously provided consent, your child may be tested this month as part of the in-school testing program—however, for your child to participate in the testing program for the remainder of this school year, you must submit a new consent form.
Additional Resources for Families
As you prepare for the first day of school, please be sure to visit our website for the most up-to-date information on t his school year.
What’s next? Check out Back to School Checklist for Families for steps you can take to prepare for a strong start to the school year.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing
Vaccination
Vaccination is the most important step you can take to protect you and your family from COVID-19. All New Yorkers aged 12 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
In partnership with the NYC Test & Trace Corps and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), all school sites serving students 12 and older are offering Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations to eligible New Yorkers during the first week of school to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated and stay safe. (Second doses will be provided at the beginning of October.) No appointment is needed at these sites. You can learn more about site hours from your school or by visiting the COVID-19 information page on our website.
Vaccine Requirements for Eligible Students Participating in High Risk Extracurricular Activities
Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) Vaccination Policy
As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccination will be required this year for DOE students and staff participating in Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) sports considered high-risk for potential COVID-19 transmission. High-risk sports include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, stunt, and rugby. Vaccination will also be required for participation in bowling because while the sport is not high risk, the locations where it occurs require vaccination.
Participants in fall high-risk sports must get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the first day of competitive play, which varies by sport. Winter and spring PSAL participants have until the beginning of their season to be fully vaccinated. For additional information about health and safety protocols for PSAL in the 2021-22 school year, please visit Public Schools Athletic League.
Extracurricular Activities Vaccination Policy
Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State guidance, COVID-19 vaccination will be required this year for students who are at least 12 years old and are participating in afterschool extracurricular activities considered high-risk for potential COVID-19 transmission.
High risk afterschool activities include:
- Chorus
- Musical Theater
- Dance / Dance Team
- Band / Orchestra / Marching Band
- Cheerleading / Step Teams / Flag Team
Please reach out to your school for additional information regarding participation in these activities.
Department of Education (DOE) Vaccination Portal
You can upload an image of your child’s vaccination card or NYC Excelsior Pass to the DOE’s vaccine portal at vaccine.schools.nyc. Submitting that information will support New York City’s pandemic response and recovery efforts, helping to ensure that our school communities remain safe and healthy.
COVID-19 Testing in Schools
Continuing the safety measures introduced in the previous school year, we will be conducting regular COVID testing of staff and students grades 1 through 12. That way, action can be taken right away to protect the school community if there’s a positive case. As noted above, in order for your child to be included in the in-school testing program, you must submit an updated testing consent form for your child to your school.
At Your Child’s School
Visitor Safety
School Visitor Policy
Effective Monday, September 13, all visitors to DOE school buildings are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (1 dose), in order to enter the building, except in the case of an emergency. This proof may be provided in several ways. In order to enter the building, a visitor must:
- show identification,
- have proof of vaccination,
- complete the daily health screening form, and
- wear a face covering.
On the first day of school, 3K/Pre-K parents, in small groups, will be able to walk their children into the classroom and stay with them briefly on the first day of school without showing proof of vaccination. All other requirements apply. Please see Health and Safety in Our Schools for more information.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
The first parent-teacher conferences of the 2021-22 school year will take place in the fall of 2021. As in the previous school year, for the safety of our school communities, all parent-teacher conferences will be held remotely in school year 2021–22. Your child’s school will be in contact regarding the specific date and time of their parent teacher conferences.
Face Coverings (Masks)
Wearing face coverings or masks is one of the most important strategies for keeping our school communities safe. As mandated by the New York State Department of Health, all students and staff must wear a face covering when riding on school buses and on school property (indoors and outdoors), regardless of vaccination status, unless they have a medical exemption. Students who are not medically able to tolerate masks will be provided with alternative accommodations. We appreciate your support in reminding your student to wear a face covering every day to school. Forgot your mask or need a replacement? We will make sure to provide your child with one!
Week of August 30, 2021: Update for Families
American Sign Language (video)
Back-to-School Family Forums
You’re invited to attend virtual Back-to-School Family Forums to learn about our preparations for the first day of the 2021–2022 school year! In the forums, you will hear directly from Chancellor Meisha Porter and a public health expert from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In addition, executive superintendents will review the DOE’s protocols for a safe re-opening, followed by a live Q&A.
You can sign up for the forums, and you’re welcome to attend any of the events. If you missed a session, feel free to attend another of your choice or watch a forum later . Interpretation will be provided in the top languages spoken in each borough. American Sign Language (ASL) will be available at all sessions.
- September 1: Brooklyn, 6:00–7:30 p.m. (Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic)
- September 1: Queens, 8:00–9:30 p.m. (Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali)
- September 2: Bronx, 6:00–7:30 p.m. (Spanish, French, Arabic)
- September 2: Staten Island, 8:00–9:30 p.m. (Spanish, Mandarin, Russian)
- September 9: Manhattan, 8:00–9:30 p.m. (Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese)
Updated Health and Safety Guidance
As you prepare for the first day of school, we hope your first stop will be the DOE’s website for school year 2021–22: schools.nyc.gov/homecoming. You will find the most up-to-date information on how we’re working to keep students and staff healthy and safe this school year.
In addition, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Porter have released the DOE Homecoming 2021 Health and Safety Guide. The guide includes updates about vaccination, health screenings, quarantine protocols, and other important information. It is available in multiple languages on the School Year 2021-22 page on our website.
Attendance and Grading
Attendance
Regular school attendance is crucial to learning successfully. Here are attendance policies for the 2021-22 school year:
In-person: To be marked “present,” your child must be physically present in the classroom or school learning environment for at least one instructional period during the school day.
Remote: When students must be remote (for example, when they are quarantining or their school buildings are closed in whole or in part), they must be virtually present for synchronous or asynchronous instruction during the scheduled program day.
Grading
Grades provide you and your student important feedback about how they are progressing in their learning. Here is what you need to know about grading for 2021–22:
- Schools will continue to select their own grading scales—as they did prior to the pandemic and again beginning last school year. Grading options include the 1–4 scale, alphabetic scale (A –F), and the 100-point scale. “Course in progress” (NX) is available to individual students in exceptional circumstances.
- Middle and high school parents will continue the policy adopted last year to choose to replace any passing final grade with a grade of “CR” or “P,” indicating earning course credit or passing.
- Schools will not factor attendance into grades at all, continuing the policy adopted last school year. Your student’s grade will be based primarily on their academic progress.
Transportation
School buses transporting students will follow guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York State. Buses will take the following steps:
- Where practical and weather permitting, windows will remain open and the air system on the bus will run in the non-recirculating mode during transit; please dress your child appropriately.
- Everyone in a school bus must wear face coverings (masks) at all times regardless of vaccination status, unless they have an approved medical exemption from the mask requirements
- Students should maintain physical distance when possible.
Update Your Contact Information
Stay up to date on important announcements from the DOE, including school closures and events happening in your district or citywide! With a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) account, you can update your contact information, fill out important school forms online, see your child’s grades, schedules, test scores, assigned transportation, attendance and more. You can sign up for an account today with just your name and contact information! To connect an account to your child’s school records, please contact your school to confirm your information.
Vaccination Reminder
Vaccination is the most important step you can take to protect you and your family from COVID-19, and all New Yorkers ages 12 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a child who is at least 12 years old and not yet fully vaccinated, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the DOE strongly encourage you to make a vaccination appointment for them as soon as possible by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. For the latest DOE vaccination information, visit the COVID-19 on our website.
Final Day of Community Meals Service
The last day of community meal service at NYC schools will be Friday, September 10. Starting Monday, September 13, please visit your local food pantry, soup kitchen, green market, or call 311 to assist in finding a location near you. Additional information can be found at nyc.gov/getfood.
Please note that the NYC Department of Education continues to offer free breakfast, lunch, and afterschool meals to all NYC public school students during the school year. We look forward to welcoming our students back and serving them a fresh and nutritious meal.
August 20, 2021 : Letter to Families from Chancellor Porter
We are so excited to welcome New York City’s students back to the classroom this fall! And back to the playing fields!
As part of our multilayered approach to health and safety in our schools, COVID-19 vaccination will be required this year for New York City Department of Education (DOE) students and staff participating in Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) sports considered high-risk for potential COVID-19 transmission. This is in alignment with recent New York State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, which states that high-risk sports and extracurricular activities should be virtual or canceled in areas of high community transmission unless all participants are fully vaccinated.
High-risk sports include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, stunt, and rugby. Vaccination will also be required for participation in bowling, because while not a high-risk sport, it takes place in spaces that require vaccination.
Participants in fall high-risk sports must get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the first day of competitive play, which varies by sport. Winter and spring PSAL participants have until the first day of competition to be fully vaccinated. For additional information about vaccine requirements for PSAL in the 2021-22 school year, please see the FAQ at the end of this letter.
Families will be able to upload proof of students’ vaccination status at vaccine.schools.nyc beginning August 21. Proof of vaccination can be an image of a vaccination card, NYS Excelsior Pass, or other government record. Submitting this information will support New York City’s pandemic response and recovery efforts, and help ensure that DOE schools and buildings remain safe places for all students and staff.
Getting the vaccine is safe, effective, and free—and the most important step that you can take to protect your family and community against COVID-19. If you have a child who is at least 12 years old, we strongly encourage you to make a vaccination appointment for them as soon as possible by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. You can also call 877-VAX-4-NYC (877-829-4692) for help making an appointment at a City-run vaccination site. Mobile vaccination sites will also be visiting schools and PSAL conditioning sites across the city this fall.
With the rapid spread of the delta variant of the virus, it has never been more important to get vaccinated. The delta variant is more contagious, infecting more young people than previous strains, and may be more likely to cause severe illness, and to reinfect someone who already had COVID-19. Keep New York City safe, keep New York City strong—get vaccinated!
FAQ Regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for PSAL Participation
How can student athletes provide proof of vaccination?
Families can upload proof of vaccination on the DOE’s COVID-19 vaccination portal at vaccine.schools.nyc. Proof can be an image of a vaccination card, NYS Excelsior Pass, or other government record.
Who will be checking vaccination status?
Coaches and athletic directors will check vaccination cards or the vaccination portal to confirm status.
What are the consequences for not being vaccinated?
If a student participating in a high-risk PSAL sport this fall does not have their first dose by the first day of competitive play for their sport, they will not be allowed to participate in practice or competition.
Do student athletes who are fully vaccinated need to wear masks?
Fully vaccinated athletes are not required to wear a mask during high-risk PSAL activities held outdoors.
Does this apply to coaches and PSAL Athletic Directors?
Yes, this mandate applies to everyone participating in high-risk sports.
Can games or practices happen before participants are fully vaccinated?
Yes, as long as participants have received their first dose.
July 8, 2021: Letter to Families from Chancellor Porter
American Sign Language (video)
We made it! I hope you are all having a restful start to the summer. As you relax and reflect on the past year, we have been hard at work planning the year to come. The past year has presented us with unimaginable challenges, but also incredible opportunities for big change.
I’ve been a DOE educator for more than 20 years, and I know that turning these opportunities into real change is the work of a whole community! So we talked to principals, teachers, central office staff, families, and students who shared their experiences over the last year—and their hopes for how we move forward.
Your voices were clear: We have a chance to make key changes to some very important parts of teaching and learning, in every grade. Right now, we can break down stubborn inequities and make sure that no matter what school your child enters, they are warmly welcomed, and met with the highest academic expectations—and that we are ready to help them achieve.
This year, healing will happen alongside rigorous academics. I want to share just a little bit about what will change this coming year, thanks to a $635 million investment in our academic comeback for our one million students.
Before I do, I want to acknowledge that not every family feels the same way about returning to school in person. Many families are excited and ready for full-time reconnection for their children. Others feel anxious, or unsure about potential risks. I can promise you that your child’s health is our number one priority, now and always. We are opening full time for every student because we know we can protect their health and safety—and yours. And we know that being in school is critically important for your child’s growth and success.
Our Academic Recovery Plan below explains some of how we are seizing this moment so your child can learn, heal, and thrive. More information will be posted on schools.nyc.gov this summer.
I am so excited for our homecoming on September 13 for every student—more excited than I’ve ever been in my two decades at the DOE. I am honored to share this journey with you and your child, and look forward to reconnecting as we approach the beginning of the school year.
NYC Public Schools: What you will see in September
Your Child Will Feel Welcomed, and Helped to Heal from the Past Year
Children in every community are carrying trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A successful academic recovery can only happen when the emotional and mental health needs of students are also addressed.
- We will hire over 500 new social workers and other mental health support staff so that your child’s school has at least one social worker or school-based mental health clinic.
- We will begin adding over 130 new community schools to provide expanded social, emotional, academic, and extracurricular services in communities where they’re most needed.
Your Child’s Literacy Skills Will Be a Priority
Literacy and reading are absolutely fundamental to children’s ability to reach important milestones all along the educational journey. Our goal is to have every student reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade.
- If you have a child in kindergarten through grade 2, their teachers will use a tool to identify strengths and challenges at the beginning of the year, and develop support plans tailored to their specific needs.
- Thousands of teachers in these grades will receive extra training to support literacy.
- 140 more teachers will be hired to reduce class sizes at 72 elementary schools with the specific goal of improving reading proficiency.
- We will bring the number of reading coaches in our successful Universal Literacy coaching program to 500 so every early childhood and K-2 classroom has one.
- In addition, we will give schools funding for targeted supports for students, such as, extended day and enrichment activities.
Your Child Will Grow Their Technological Skills
This September, we will build on what we have learned about the benefits of technology. Students will develop digital skills to prepare them for the new economy.
- We will distribute an additional 175,000 devices so every K-12 student who needs one has access to one.
- We will launch an eighth-grade technology project for students to demonstrate their digital literacy skills.
- We will train 5,000 K-12 teachers to teach computer science coursework.
- We will expand Computer Science for All, to support computational thinking, problem-solving, and digital skills for 400,000 students by 2024.
More Special Education Support Will Be Available for Students with Disabilities
The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our students with disabilities. The Academic Recovery Plan will make every resource available to better support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), from our youngest learners to students preparing for graduation:
- We will launch afterschool and Saturday programs for students with IEPs to receive additional instruction and related services.
- We will add 800 Special Education Pre-K seats and expand Committees on Preschool Special Education to review more IEP requests.
- We will provide eligible students ages 21+ with either continued instruction toward their diploma or other credential, or consultation about plans for college and career readiness.
- We will also continue to provide family workshops and information sessions through our Beyond Access Series, which supports families of students with disabilities by providing sessions on topics related to special education.
More Language Support Will Be Available to Multilingual Learners
Multilingual learners (MLs) and immigrant families are valued and supported at DOE. We will provide culturally responsive supports that give students and their families equitable access to resources and opportunities that help students succeed inside and outside the classroom.
- We will establish Immigrant Ambassador Programs across 30 high schools to match immigrant DOE students with college students for mentorship.
- Schools will be provided resources to purchase print and digital books in students’ home languages, and build home language libraries.
- We will provide teachers with training that is specific to the language needs of multilingual learners and immigrant students.
- We will conduct wellness checks and deliver social-emotional learning support to multilingual learners, particularly in transitioning to full time in-person learning.
- We will expand the Postsecondary Readiness for ELLs Program (PREP), to be facilitated by a select group of school counselors and educators.
Your Child Will Get Ready for College and Career
Especially as our students heal from the pandemic, we need to make sure they are better prepared for the next step in life, whether it’s college or career.
- We will deliver free, personalized college counseling for every junior and senior after school so that every student has a post-graduation plan. This includes launching Student Success Centers for 34 high schools.
- We will offer Universal College Financial Aid Guidance in multiple languages, to help navigate the application process.
- We will add new Advanced Placement or College Now courses so tens of thousands more students have access to college-level coursework.
Your Child Will Learn Challenging Material That Reflects Who They Are
Children are more engaged in class when they can see themselves in their lessons and materials. We are committed to reflecting the city’s “beautiful mosaic” of cultures and histories in curriculum.
- In the fall, your child’s school will receive an infusion of books that reflect the variety of histories, languages, and experiences that make up the city.
- The DOE will begin work on universal, rigorous, and inclusive English Language Arts (ELA) and Math curricula that will be shared by New York City’s 1,600 schools and one million students. It will be built on investments in literacy and will challenge students to move beyond their academic comfort zones.
- The DOE will begin developing brand new support materials for ELA, Math, Arts and more, developed by New York City educators for New York City students.
Sign Language Interpretation