NYC Department of Education Updates
Week of April 12, 2021
School Closure Policy Update
NYC School sites will only close if there are four or more cases from four different classrooms within seven days, with exposure traced to school. Visit schools.nyc.gov/RTShealthsafety to learn more. These changes will provide stability to school communities while keeping health and safety front and center.
Covid-19 Vaccines for People Ages 16 and Up
Flyer: Get Your Covid-19 Vaccine
Flyer: What New Yorkers Need to Know About Covid-19 Vaccines
Event: Apple Virtual Learning Sessions for NYC Parents and Guardians: iPads
Apple is hosting a series of virtual workshops for parents and guardians of NYC students to help them set up their child’s iPad for remote learning. Click here for more information about dates and times of sessions.
Event: The DOE and Community Partners Host FAFSA/TAP Completion Workshops in Multiple Languages
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they’ll get.
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to $5,165. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.
TAP is also available for students attending a SUNY, CUNY and not-for-profit independent degree-granting college on a part-time basis. To be eligible for Part-time TAP you must have been a first-time freshman in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter, have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters, and maintained a “C” average.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Spring Into Parent University!
Parent University seeks to educate and empower families as partners, advocates, and lifelong educators in their student's education through free courses, resources, events, and activities.
Parent University serves all families, from early childhood through adulthood. Even if you are not a parent, we encourage you to become involved with Parent University. With an expanding course list Parent University is ready to support you. Register and enroll for a course today!
To register for a course:
Visit parentu.schools.nyc
Sign in with your NYC Schools Account or create a new account
Choose a course from the Course Catalog tab
Click Enroll
Check your email for confirmation!
For more information about Parent University, including flyers in different languages, please visit the Office of Family and Community Empowerment page on the DOE website. To get started, watch this short video tutorial and learn how to create an account. Then, go to parentu.schools.nyc .
We hope to see you on Parent University!
Upcoming Courses
Series: Making Learning Work
Join us for a series of live, web-based courses called Making Learning Work and learn how to support your child and finish the school year strong! In these courses, celebrate the ways you are already supporting your child.
Also, access a user-friendly family guide full of practical resources, tools, and tips to help your child learn at home and school and build and sustain meaningful relationships.
For more information about this 3-part series view the course information below or download these flyers in English and Spanish.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP
Setup & Routines
In this workshop we will discuss how to create a safe, consistent learning environment for your child.
English and Spanish – Tuesday, April 20 @ 6pm
Learning & Growing
In this workshop we will discuss how to engage your child in instruction and support your child’s growth.
English and Spanish – Tuesday, April 20 @ 6pm
Community & Connection
In this workshop we will discuss how to help your child establish and support meaningful relationships.
English and Spanish – Tuesday, May 4 @ 6pm
Weekly Yoga and Mindfulness Courses
Self-Care: Mindfulness, Breathing, & Chair Yoga – EVERY Tuesday at 10am
Mindfulness for Parents with Children of All Ages - EVERY Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm
Series: Creating a Successful Learning Environment at Home
Join us for Creating a Successful Learning Environment at Home, a series of live, web-based courses where you will learn strategies and access tools that promote a successful learning environment for your children.
For more information about this 5-part series view the course information below or download these flyers in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
English as a Second Language & High School Equivalency Diploma Programs
RiseBoro Adult Education
English: Monday, April 12 at 6:00 pm
Spanish: Tuesday, June 1 at 6:00 pm
Meet the Citywide and Community Education Council Candidates!
Right now, parents are looking to represent their school community by serving on a Citywide or Community Education Council. 32 Community and 4 Citywide Education Councils (CCEC) work to represent all public school students.
The application window is over, and the voting window will start on May 1st and end on May 11th - but the Candidate Forums are happening in April. Join a virtual forum to hear what the candidates have to say, or if you can’t make the forum for your district, watch a recording.
Check out the DOE’s CCEC Elections website, for updated information about Candidates, Candidate Forums, Recorded Candidate Forums and Campaign Guidelines.
You can register to attend the forums here.
For the first time voting is open to parents of all students. To vote parents will need to have an NYC Schools Account that has all of their students registered. If you do not have an NYC Schools Account, or need assistance registering your children to your existing account, please contact your Parent Coordinator or Family Leadership Coordinator (FLC) for assistance.
PA/PTA Trainings
Parent leadership is the cornerstone of public schools and their success. As autonomous and self-governing entities, PA/PTAs and Presidents’ Councils are essential partners with their schools, districts, and the NYC Department of Education overall. The department recognizes and actively supports involvement, engagement, empowerment, and partnership with ALL parents and families in NYC.
The Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) hosts monthly trainings to support PA/PTAs, Presidents’ Councils, and other parent leader structures. We look forward to sharing information, collaborating, and supporting our parent leaders and students. Please join us for our next training/webinar.
PA/PTA Bylaws
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 10:00 am
This training will provide an overview of the PA/PTA Bylaws. Bylaws are the document that establishes and governs the day-to-day affairs of the PA/PTA. All PA/PTAs must have bylaws; bylaws cannot be suspended and should be amended periodically to reflect current PA/PTA needs and changes to the Chancellor Regulation A-660.
Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Mandarin and French. Please see registration link below and the interpretation lines.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wxf28IinS1Wuc8tPameGeg
Interpretation lines:
Spanish Conference Line - Dial 347-966-4114 Pin: 372 148 163#
Mandarin Conference Line - Dial 347-966-4114 Pin: 781 406 966#
French Conference Line - Dial 347-966-4114 Pin: 770 915 500#
This information will also be uploaded to Parent University

Applications are Open for the 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program - Deadline to Apply is April 23rd
New York City young people between the ages of 14 and 21 can apply through April 23 for the 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The initiative, which was launched in 1963, returns this year after the all-virtual SYEP Summer Bridge 2020 was created to adapt to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic last summer. Beginning on July 6, the six-week program will offer SYEP participants the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, build workplace skills, and engage in learning experiences that help develop their social, civic and leadership skills. By participating in structured project- and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future and to help the City recover in the months and years to come.
For more information and applications, please visit the Summer Youth Employment Program website.
EVENT: Disability in the Family: Exploring the Experience of Sibling Relationships
IncludeNYC - Disability in the Family:
Exploring the Experience of Sibling Relationships
INCLUDEnyc is offering an online panel featuring brothers and sisters of people with disabilities on Sunday, April 11th from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
For more information and registration, click here.
EVENT: “Is Voting Powerful?” Discussion by Civic Newsroom
Interested in how power flows in our city government and how the different offices, agencies, and elected positions affect the issues that you care about in your communities? The City, a non-profit, non partisan digital news media dedicated to all things about New York City is hosting a series of online Civic Newsroom discussions, beginning on April 7, 2021. For more information on NYC’s upcoming elections and Civic Newsroom events, check out their website at “Is Voting Powerful?”
EVENT: Weekend Wellness
The Office of School Wellness Programs is partnering with Hip Hop Public Health for a free Saturday morning event series, "Weekend Wellness: Self-Care for Communities and Families.”
In this live conversation, we will break down the elements of racial bias, learn more about the signs and symptoms of toxic stress and share ways to fortify, unify to protect the wellness of our families, communities and ourselves.