Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

New York public schools will receive an additional $1.1 billion in the new state budget, thanks in part to the efforts of parent activists, students and educators. We had a couple of other wins in the budget: retaining both the "millionaire's tax" and the cap on charter schools. Read the story on the UFT website »

Check out more upcoming events and news you can use below.

Sincerely,

Anthony Harmon
UFT Director of Parent and Community Outreach

Upcoming events

• Wednesday, April 26: The ADAPT Community Network (formerly called United Cerebral Palsy of New York City) will hold a Family Connect summit for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Ave. in Manhattan. The summit is free for parents and individuals and $30 for professionals. Parents will be provided with MetroCards. Register online now »

• Thursday, April 27 and Tuesday, May 9: Don't miss free cone day at Carvel and Haagen Daz. Carvel will give out free cones from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 27. Haagen Daz will dole out free cones from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 9.

• Thursday, April 27: The NAACP is holding a hearing on charter schools and public schools from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Harlem Hospital Center and Mural Pavilion, 506 Malcolm X Blvd. This is a chance to make your voice heard about the recent NAACP board resolution calling for a moratorium on charter school expansion. To register to speak, arrive at 5:30 p.m. See the flier »

• Saturday, April 29: The National Alumni Association of Spelman College invites high school students to its annual college preparation program from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 244 E. 163rd St. in the Bronx. Learn about Historically Black Colleges and Universities, how to apply for financial aid and more at this free event. Register online now »

• Saturday, May 13: All are welcome at the UFT Spring Education Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New York Hilton Hotel, 1335 Avenue of the Americas. This year, we'll honor Rev. William Barber, the president of the North Carolina NAACP and leader of the Moral Mondays civil rights protests, with the John Dewey Award. There is a $50 registration fee. Find out more »

• Friday, May 19: Save the date for the UFT Be BRAVE Against Bullying Conference at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. The conference is always a great opportunity to learn about how to make our schools safer places for all. Keep an eye out for registration details.

• Saturday, May 20: It's the annual Super Saturday! Come to a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harlem Armory, 40 W. 143rd St. in Manhattan. Meet STEM professionals, learn about new technology and more. See the flier »

Summer programs

• Free summer program for high school students interested in public art: The SculptureCenter in Long Island City, Queens, invites high school students to apply for the Public Process High School Summer Program — a free, three-week, intensive summer program about public art. Applications are due by May 15. Find out more »

• Apply for free STEM summer programs: The Department of Education this summer will offer science, technology, engineering and math programs all over the city for all age levels. Programs include camps at the city's museums, paid internships and college courses. To learn more, see the flier »

• Register for day camp at NYC parks: The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation holds day camps in parks throughout the city for children between the ages of 6 and 13. Camps will run from July 5 to Aug. 18 this summer. The cost is $500 per child for seven weeks and includes activities like sports, arts and crafts, computer classes, field trips and more. See the website »

News you can use

• Free and low-cost health clinics: The New York City Department of Health has free and low-cost health clinics throughout the city that offer services like STD testing, immunizations and more, regardless of immigration status. Find out more »

• Success Academy suspends special needs student for 45 days: In a controversial move, Success Academy Charter School suspended a student with special needs for 45 days. The charter school has often been criticized for its treatment of students with learning disabilities and for its punitive policies. Read an education professor's take on the suspension in a Daily News op-ed »