The Month Ahead (August 2025)
The last full month of summer is upon us! See what's happening in NYC Public Schools in August 2025, including the end of our Summer Rising, summer school, and Summer Meals programs, and start getting ready for the start of the new school year in September!
Get Ready for More Learning and Less Scrolling
Beginning this September, NYC Public Schools will be implementing its new Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy across all K–12 City public schools, including charter programs, in accordance with New York State law. Learn more about this "cell phone ban," and start getting ready for distraction-free schools this fall!
Help Shape the Future of Community Services in NYC
The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) is conducting a survey this summer to understand the needs of City youth, families, and communities across the five boroughs. Learn more about DYCD's 2025 Community Needs Assessment, and take 10 minutes to give DYCD your feedback today!
Be Smart, Stay Safe this Summer
School Is Out, But Summer Reading is In!
Summer is finally here, and so is summer reading! Our summer reading resources will help students foster their love of reading and maintain their literacy skills while they're out of the classroom over the next few months.
Previewing the Year Ahead (2025–26 School Year)
See what's ahead for NYC Public Schools for the entire 2025–26 school year. Check out our official 2025–26 School Calendar, and start planning ahead for next year TODAY.
Join NYC Public Libraries for Free Activities for the Whole Family This Summer
Free Summer Meals for NYC Kids Until August 29
Even after the 2024–2025 school year ends, anyone 18 years old or younger can still enjoy free breakfast and lunch throughout the summer, starting Friday, June 27, 2025.
Happy August! As the summer starts winding down, the good news is it’s still not too late for some summer reading. You might even find a new favorite book among our recommendations below, which feature a variety of summertime stories across many genres for students of all ages to enjoy.
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Aloha Everything, by Kaylin Melia George; illustrated by Mae White
- Beach Hair, by Ashley Woodfolk; illustrated by Niña Mata
- Everybelly, by Thao Lam
- Hot Dog, by Doug Salati
- Our Pool, by Lucy Ruth Cummins
- Sari-Sari Summers, by Lynnor Bontigao
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Farah Rocks Summer Break, by Susan Muaddi Darraj; illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa
- A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation, by Pablo Cartaya
- Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All, by Chanel Miller
- Mermaid Kenzie, by Charlotte Watson Sherman; illustrated by Geneva Bowers
- Speak Up, Santiago!, by Julio Anta; illustrated by Gabi Mendez
- The Summer of the Bone Horses, by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; illustrated by Steph Littlebird
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- The Forgotten Summer of Seneca, by Camryn Garrett
- Kaya of the Ocean, by Gloria L. Huang
- My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, by Ibi Zoboi
- Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer, by Waka T. Brown
- Second Chance Summer, by Sarah Kapit
- Three Summers, by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Brownstone, by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
- Dragonfruit, by Makiia Lucier
- Take a Sad Song, by Ona Gritz
- The Counselors, by Jessica Goodman
- The Secret Summer Promise, by Keah Brown
- The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, by Leslye Walton
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more great recommendations in the Summer Reading Collection on Sora!
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
On July 16, Governor Kathy Hochul joined Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos for a roundtable event at Walton High School in the Bronx to meet with local community and school-based stakeholders to discuss New York State's updated policy regarding students' use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during school days.
During the roundtable, the Governor and Chancellor provided an overview of how the upcoming policy will affect classrooms, learning spaces, and families in school communities across the City and the State. Check out some of our favorite moments during this community event!
Ready to Read: Literacy Resources for Families
NYC Reads is reshaping the way that we teach our students to read, but the learning doesn't have to stop at the classroom door! Whether it's a family book club or a phonics-based 20 questions game, you can bring the "science of reading" home by using any of our helpful resources that will help your children continue to develop their literacy skills, like:
- Reading Games
- Phonics, Vocabulary, and Storytelling Practice
- And more!
A MySchools.nyc Tutorial: Learn the Basics
Throughout any stage of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) application processes for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, middle school, high school, and Gifted and Talented (G&T) for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, you can use MySchools.nyc—learn how to today!
Stay Informed with a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA)
With a NYCSA, you can:
- Access your child's school information on the go
- See your student’s grades, test scores and more
- Complete important forms
- Take classes in Parent University
- Get technology support through SupportHub
