NYC schools get new dashboard to increase transparency and track progress

"In her first "State of Our Schools" address Monday, Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos gave an overview of how the Education Department is meeting families' needs and announced a new accountability tool that breaks down a variety of education initiatives, from the expansion of the NYC Reads curriculum mandate to chronic absenteeism rates per district. The tool is divided into family engagement, teacher support, and student well-being, tracking 37 topics ranging from staff hiring updates and expanding autism programs to increasing voter turnout for the local Community Education Council elections."

""As your chancellor, I want us to operate differently. More openly," she told the packed auditorium of administrators, elected officials, and parents at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in East Harlem. Aviles-Ramos, eight months into the position after David Banks abruptly resigned last fall, was stating her case for making the nation's largest school system more transparent. Her address came just one day after Mayor Eric Adams announced he's bowing out of the race."

Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos presented an overview of Education Department efforts and introduced a new accountability dashboard to increase transparency for families. The dashboard is organized into family engagement, teacher support, and student well-being and tracks 37 topics, including expansion of the NYC Reads curriculum mandate and chronic absenteeism rates by district. Tracked items also include staff hiring updates, expanding autism programs, and efforts to raise voter turnout for Community Education Council elections. The event featured a marching band, student performances, and a standing ovation. Parents expressed approval, saying the tool lets families compare progress year to year. Mayor Eric Adams' recent decision to bow out of the race was noted and may lead to leadership changes.

Read at Chalkbeat