Update: On Sept 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed that there will be a delayed start to the school year: The first day will be Sept 21. Then, on Sept 17, the mayor revealed that there would be another delayed start to the school year. 3K, pre-K and District 75 schools will begin in-person learning on Monday. K–5 and K–8 schools will reopen for in-person learning on Sept 29. Middle schools and high schools will reopen for in-person learning on Oct 1. However, remote instruction will begin citywide on Monday for those whose in-person start dates have been delayed, according to NBC.
Ah, the million-dollar question: "When is the first day of school?"
Although Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for schools across the state to reopen, it's still unclear how the NYC DOE's 2020–2021 term will unfold. Sept 10 is the proposed date for NYC schools, but many lawmakers are pushing for a delayed start.
Joining the ranks of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Council member and Education Chair Mark Treyger are 34 principals in District 15, who just penned a letter earlier this month to the mayor, governor and school chancellor stating that Sept 10 is not a realistic target.
"We desperately want to return to schools, we know that kids and parents need schools open and rely on us for critical services, but we cannot let that cloud our judgment and push for a hastily planned unsafe return that delivers a mediocre educational experience," the letter stated. The principals' most crucial concerns focus on space usage, academic policy, special education policy and a multilingual learners policy.
As of Aug 27, it appears the DOE is working toward Sept 10. Time Out New York Kids has reached out to the NYC DOE and will share a 2020-2021 calendar as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, families can familiarize themselves with schools' health and safety procedures and sign up for the DOE's final virtual information session.
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