Navigating the School System

The New York City school system can seem overwhelming to anyone. There are over one million students in 1,600 schools, but chances are you want information about how one child is affected — yours — and how your child’s school works. The best place to get information and the best place to get involved is in your local school. Active, involved parents are critical in building strong school communities that help children succeed.

But parents should also have a voice throughout the school system, and parents and educators are natural allies in fighting to create the best educational opportunities possible for all of our city’s children. That is why in 2009, when the city’s school governance law was up for renewal, the UFT worked hard for changes in the law that provided greater transparency and accountability and that gave parents a greater say in the system.

Helpful Links

2011-2012 School Calendar

Your local school

Beyond your local school — the PEP, CECs and more alphabet soup

Overview of the provisions of the new governance law and the changes from the old law

Making the most of parent-teacher conferences

Special ed and the IEP

UFT parent support

DOE and NYC links

DOE homepage

NYC Family Guide

DOE Office for Family Information and Action

Online high school directory