Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos Testifies at the 2025 State Budget Hearing

  • Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025

Today Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos testified on behalf of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) as part of the New York State budget hearing.

ANNOUNCES EXPANDED INVESTMENT IN NYC READS, SUMMER RISING APPLICATION OPENING

NEW YORK – Today Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos testified on behalf of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) as part of the New York State budget hearing. In her testimony, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos reaffirmed her commitment to students, families, and educators, and announced exciting updates to two of NYCPS’s foundational programs. These two updates join an impressive roster of achievements from the last three months, all aligned to Chancellor Aviles-Ramos's vision and commitment to empower and bolster support for students, families, and staff.

Under Chancellor Aviles-Ramos's leadership, NYCPS is:

  1. Expanding investments in NYC Reads, providing educators with an additional year of professional development and job-embedded coaching and support;
  2. Bringing back Summer Rising for the 2025 summer season, with applications opening in March.

Since assuming office late last year, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos has quickly embraced her role, reinforcing her commitment to advancing education, empowering families, and supporting educators.

"I am deeply honored to represent New York City Public Schools at the state budget hearing. Our schools are the heart of our city, and I am proud to advocate for the resources and support our students, families, and educators need to thrive,” said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “Together, we can ensure that every child in our city has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for a bright start and a bold future."

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS

ENSURING SAFETY AND PROMOTING WELLNESS

  • Trained 4,000 staff members in mindfulness with an emphasis on self-care, bringing the total number of trained staff up to 7,000. Additionally, 300 school safety agents were trained in mindfulness and self-care through a partnership with the New York Police Department.
  • Launched a partnership with the New York State Trauma-Informed Network and Resource Center and the Breath-Body-Mind Foundation to offer school staff resources and trainings on trauma-responsive, equity-focused practices

FOSTERING GENUINE AND IMPACTFUL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

  • Launched the Post-Secondary Mentoring program, partnering with nonprofit organizations to build positive relationships between youth and mentors from similar cultural, racial, or ethnic backgrounds.
  • Convened the first Multilingual NYC Advisory Council with over 50 students, families, educators, and community partners representing all five boroughs and who speak 16 languages. The list of advisors can be found here.
  • Welcomed IESP students to weekend academies for the first time ever, allowing private, parochial, and homeschool students to receive their related services on Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, eight new after-school sessions are now being offered to support these students.

STRENGTHENING COMPREHENSIVE TEACHER SUPPORTS

  • Trained over 7,000 district and school-based staff, including teachers, related service providers, and counselors to better support autistic students across the school day. Professional learning focuses on instructional, behavioral, social-emotional, and sensory needs such as classroom environment, instructional strategies, and applied behavior analysis interventions.
  • Shifted District 75 to the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning to fulfill the citywide commitment to ensuring our young students with disabilities and multilingual learners have the necessary supports needed to learn and thrive, and to provide every child in our city with access to a quality education that meets their unique needs.

 

SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING

  • Announced a new FutureReadyNYC anchor partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, bringing the number of program participants to over 15,000 students from 135 high schools.
  • Launched a Childhood Strings Pathway, bringing individual and group violin instruction to 3K and Pre-K students at the Bardwell School in Staten Island, the Belmont School in the Bronx, and the Mahalia Jackson School in Manhattan. This is in partnership with the Bronx Arts Ensemble, the Harmony Program, and Third Street Music School Settlement and will continue through at least second grade.

 

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About New York City Public Schools:  New York City Public Schools is a testament to the history and impact of urban education in the United States. With over 1,600 schools spread across five boroughs, the system is made up of approximately 1.1 million students and staff, making it the largest public school system in the nation. These schools employ more than 75,000 teachers who deliver a rich tapestry of educational experiences to a student body that reflects the city's vibrant and diverse cultural heritage. This network of educational institutions represents not just the scale of New York City's commitment to public education, but also its dedication to fostering a learning environment that is as dynamic and diverse as the city itself. 

 

Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office press@schools.nyc.gov