The Morning Bell

Get Ready for Day One

Ready for the first day of school on Thursday, September 4? If the answer is anything other than "yes," don't sweat it—check out our list of tips, suggestions, and advice on how to turn your child's first day into their Best Day!

The Month Ahead (September 2025)

Time to wave "goodbye" to the summer, and see what's happening in NYC Public Schools in September 2025, including the first day of the 2025–26 school year, the year's first round of Parent-Teacher Conferences, and Rosh Hashanah!

"Fall" in and check out September's school calendar!

Pre-adolescent girl sitting at a desk inside a classroom and writing with a pencil.

Move Past the 'Back to School Blues'

Is your child "feeling boneless" over the thought of their summer recess ending? Are your children having second thoughts about returning back to school? Learn how you can get your children back into learning shape by checking out our suggested ways to help them move past the "Back to School Blues!"

Let's snap our kids back into gear for learning!

Young girl holding up a watercolor painting of a rainbow.

Have A Smooth Ride Back to School with Your Student OMNY Card

The Student OMNY Card is back this year! NYC Public School students ride subways and buses for free—all day, every day of the week. With up to four daily taps and easy transfers, it’s the best way for students to get around.

Learn more about the benefits of using your Student OMNY Card

Three students walking through a subway turnstile.

Seven New Schools Set to Open for 2025–26

This fall, seven exciting new NYC public schools will be opening their doors for their first-ever day of school. Learn more about these new programs, and see what almost 4,000 City students can look forward to experiencing this fall!

Nothing like 'that new school smell'

Side view of five middle school-aged children running up a set of stairs that lead into a school

Start the 2025–26 School Year Right at NYC Public Libraries

Get ready to go back to school this fall with NYC public libraries! With more than 200 locations across the five boroughs, there's something for everyone.

Check out upcoming highlights at New York, Brooklyn, and Queens Public Libraries

Two children standing at a table in front of a bookcase at the library.

NYC Public Schools Are On the Rise

As we look ahead to the start of the new school year, we're also celebrating some of the major strides NYC Public Schools has made in the last year. With record gains in reading and math scores and growing trust and satisfaction among families and educators, our school communities are thriving, and this is just beginning.

Celebrate the wins with us

Students at desks in a classroom with many posters. Two students in the back are excitedly raising their hands, while a student in front of them is looking at a book.

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!

Complete your DYCD survey today!

Four kids walking through a park, with one riding a skateboard, one holding a skateboard, while another is holding a basketball.

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.

See what's in store for 2025–26

Close-up of a hand writing on a dry-erase calendar using a dry-erase marker.

What We're Reading

The first day of school is finally here, and we’re so excited to welcome you all back! A new year means new opportunities to learn, grow, and—best of all—read. To help you start strong this year, we’re sharing book recommendations that are perfect for students of all ages who are gearing up for their first day back to school. Whether you’re feeling nervous, excited, or maybe a little bit of both, these books will have something for you to enjoy.

Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)

The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by Rafael López
First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg; illustrated by Judy Love
Santiago’s Dinosaurios, by Mariana Ríos Ramírez; illustrated by Udayana Lugo
Scarecited on the First Day of School, by Alliah L. Agostini; illustrated by Lala Watkins
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox, by Costantia Manoli; illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Yenebi’s Drive to School, by Sendy Santamaria

Elementary (Grades 3–5)

The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Raúf
The First Week of School, by Drew Beckmeyer
For the Right to Learn, by Rebecca Langston-George; illustrated by Janna Bock
A New School Year, by Sally Derby; illustrated by Mika Song
The Unteachables, by Gordon Korman
Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen, by Kate McGovern

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School, by Kristin Mahoney
All’s Faire in Middle School, by Victoria Jamieson
Free Lunch, by Rex Ogle
Martin McLean, Middle School Queen, by Alyssa Zaczek
Muddle School, by Dave Whamond
Planet Middle School, by Nikki Grimes

Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)

A Dangerous Idea, by Debbie Levy
The Map from Here to There, by Emery Lord
Not Here to Be Liked, by Michelle Quach
Pretty in Punxatawney, by Laurie Boyle Crompton
Study Break, edited by Aashna Avachat
Where You See Yourself, by Claire Forrest

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 Welcome Back to School Collection on Sora! Best of luck to all of our staff, students, and families as you head back to the classroom on Thursday—you’ve got this!

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!

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This is a close-up of a pamphlet cover that reads, "More Learning Less Scrolling."

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Governor Kathy Hochul (left), Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos (center), and Mark Rampersant, chief of school safety (right), are standing at a podium together with a banner that reads, "More Learning Less Scrolling."

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Governor Kathy Hochul (left) shaking a man's hand during her visit to one of NYC's high schools in July 2025 to discuss the upcoming Cell Phone and Electronic Device ban for NYS public schools.

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Side view of four District 10 stakeholders, sitting together at a table, listening to the Chancellor and the Governor provide details about the upcoming cell phone policy.

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Two twelfth grade students, Dahlia Diez Chan (left), and Isaiah Tandjung (right) smiling at camera.

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Front view of Mark Rampersant, NYCPS' chief of school safety.

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Dates to Remember

All Month Long: Attendance Awareness Month
September 1: Labor Day; NYCPS schools and offices closed
September 4: First day of the 2025–26 school year
September 12: Waitlists from 2025 middle and high school admissions close
September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month begins
September 16: National Voter Registration Day
September 17: Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools and Pre-K Centers
September 18: Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and D75 programs
September 19: Waitlists from 2025 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and G&T admissions close
September 22: Autumn Equinox; fall begins
September 23–24: Rosh Hashanah; NYCPS schools closed
September 25: Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K–12 programs, and 6–12 programs

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!

Square banner that reads, 'New Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy'

See what "less scrolling" will lead to this September!

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!