The Brian Lehrer Show Back to School with the Chancellor
Sep 2, 2025
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, shares insights on preparing for the new school year. She discusses parental concerns about childcare and the complexities of aligning the school calendar. The conversation also covers recent class size reform challenges amid teacher shortages and funding cuts. Aviles-Ramos emphasizes the importance of a new cell phone ban for student engagement and advocates for compassionate classroom management and effective communication between parents and schools.
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Calendar Changes Require Union Collaboration
- Do recognize the calendar is negotiated with unions and built to allow teacher prep and holidays.
- Expect complexities and stakeholder input when asking to change the school start date.
Local Plans Fueled Compliance
- NYC used $450 million to hire staff and convert space so schools can meet new class-size requirements.
- The DOE empowered principals to propose solutions signed off with union partners for tailored compliance.
Smaller Classes Alone Aren't Enough
- Class-size reduction helps but must be paired with teacher coaching and professional learning.
- Aviles-Ramos emphasizes that support beyond headcount drives better classroom outcomes.