Page 10 - The Indian EYE 091225

COMMUNITY OP-ED SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

What to Know to Ensure Your Child

Succeeds as They Head Back to School

the help I needed sooner.
We are also opening seven brand
new schools for the 2025-2026 school
year. With these new schools we are
opening even more doors of opportu-
nity for students, no matter what zip
code they live in. These new schools
will be located across the Bronx,
Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island,
and bring innovative learning and
career education to students across
these boroughs, including STEM, ear-
ly college prep, health care career ed-
ERIC ADAMS ucation, engineering, arts, and math.
Further, we are investing in our
kids’ future with our FutureRea-
chool is back! This week, our dyNYC program, preparing students
children will gather their school
Ssupplies, fill backpacks, and for careers in high-growth fields like
health care, technology, business, and
greet their friends as they kick off the education. Over 15,000 students are
2025-2026 school year. Our public enrolled in FutureReadyNYC schools,
schools are the best of our city — a and we are making sure they receive
place where children from every walk
of life can get a world-class education. internships from New York City em-
And from pre-K to our selective high ployers and opportunities to earn ear-
ly college credit too.
schools and technical training pro- Parents and families entering the new school year can be confident
Parents and families entering the
grams, New York City students have that their children will be able to succeed with the help of our incredible teachers and our New new school year can be confident that
every opportunity to learn, grow, and their children will be able to succeed
succeed, with the quality of our teach- York City Public Schools’ team (File photo)
ers unmatched anywhere in this na- with the help of our incredible teach-
ers and our New York City Public
tion. As the largest school district in from bell to bell. We know that phones for All,” our vision to create 20,000
America, our young people deserve disrupt our concentration, interfere additional K-5 after-school seats for Schools’ team. Our students in grades
3 to 8 have made great strides in En-
the best chance to fulfill their promise with actual in-person interactions, New York City Public School stu- glish language arts and math, and
and potential no matter what school and negatively affect young peoples’ dents, bringing the total number of the NYC Reads program has funda-
they attend. And we know, that to mental health. Of course, we are not seats to 184,000 by the start of the mentally transformed how students
make New York City the best place asking students to permanently give 2027 school year. And this school year learn to read — scoring big with an
to raise a family, we must continue to up their phones; that doesn’t make alone, we are investing an additional 8.3-point increase in test scores for
invest in our education system. sense in today’s technology-driven $21 million to bring 5,000 new K-5 af- Black students and a 7.1-point in-
As part of first-day back at school world, and we know that parents need ter-school seats online at 40 schools
celebrations, I will be joining students to stay in touch with their children. that never had after-school program- crease for Hispanic students. As a
at HBCU Early College Prep High With this rule change, our stu- ming. That means that starting this result, this year, we will be expanding
both NYC Reads and NYC Solves to
School in Queens. Early College Prep dents can be present and concentrate fall, 5,000 children in neighborhoods middle schools so we can reach more
is the perfect example of what we’re on doing their schoolwork in school, with the most need will have a safe students.
trying to do for our students and their instead of being absorbed in their and nurturing place to go to when the We understand that we do have
families. It is a school that honors our screens, texting, or scrolling on social school day is over. areas that need improvement, how-
students’ rich backgrounds and his- media. Our goal is to maintain a safe Additionally, as part of our “Best
tories, provides rigorous instruction, and productive learning environment Budget Ever,” we have invested $300 ever, and we will address them by
providing students with the support
meets local needs, and prepares our for everyone, and this change will million in early childhood education. they need as early as possible in their
students for the future. Students at protect our kids during school hours, We are also supporting students with
HBCU Early College will get a head ensure our teachers can teach without disabilities of all ages, including by schooling. We owe it to our young
people, their families, and teachers to
start on college with the opportunity distraction, and give parents peace expanding our programs for students
to graduate with an associate’s degree of mind that their kids are learning. with autism. I know from first-hand ensure that our students have a bright
start to their future. It doesn’t just
from a Historically Black College This new policy is designed to make experience how important early in- take a village to raise a child; it takes
or University. At this school, and so learning and social interactions easier tervention is. As a child, I struggled to a city. And this school year, we are
many others, we are giving our stu- and was developed in close collabo- read and kids made fun of me. I felt ensuring that New York City remains
dents an A+ education and a chance ration with the needs of our students, like I was the dumb student and was the best place to receive an education
to prepare for the future. schools, and families. always embarrassed when the teacher and raise a family.
This year will also see some big We are also bringing our city one called on me to read aloud. But the
changes in our schools. Students will step closer to universal after school truth was I didn’t realize I had dyslex- Eric Adams is the Mayor of
be required to put away their phones programming through “After-School ia until years later. I wish I received New York City, NY

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