Women's History Month Highlight: Cartoonist Amelia "Oppy" Jones and the Art of Commuting
In celebration of Women's History Month, we’re highlighting our profile of Amelia Opdyke Jones. Best known as "Oppy," her work appeared in The Subway Sun poster series, which encouraged New York City subway riders to respect their fellow passengers.
Celebrate Civics Week 2025
Civics Week is here! All week long, we're excited to celebrate the importance of youth voice and our 2025 theme, "Democracy Begins Here!" There are lots of great activities for learning about civic empowerment and the ways that everyone can participate in our democracy—regardless of age. Learn more about Civics Week, and see how you can join in on the fun!
Spring for New Courses This Season on Parent University
This season, Parent University, the City's free online learning platform for families, is featuring live courses regarding housing in New York City. Whether you're a property owner or renter, check out Parent University to learn more about your housing rights and more today!
Opportunities for Students (March 2025)
March is an outstanding time for NYC students to secure their learning and earning opportunities for the rest of the school year and beyond, including scholarships, grants, free classes and access to cultural institutions, and even paid jobs. See what's available for NYC public schools students this month, and register/apply for them today!
Summer Rising 2025 Applications Are Now Open!
Get Ready for March's Parent-Teacher Conferences
This season's Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs) are taking place throughout March! Learn when they'll occur, and check out some of our tips to make your conferences productive!
Meet the 2025 Community and Citywide Education Council Candidates!
Starting Monday, March 3, 2025, learn about the candidates seeking positions on your local Community Education Council or one of the City's four Citywide Education Councils by attending your district's virtual Candidate Forum.
The Month Ahead (March 2025)
Take a look and see what's in store for NYC Public Schools in March 2025. Key dates and celebrations this month include Parent-Teacher Conferences, Summer Rising registration, Civics Week, our monthlong celebration of Women's History Month, and Eid al-Fitr.
Make Your Voice Heard in the 2025 NYC School Survey
Let us know what you think about NYC's public schools by completing the 2025 NYC School Survey! Learn more about this year's Survey, and submit your answers by April 4, 2025!
What We're Reading
March 10–14 is Civics Week! The theme for Civics Week in 2025 is “Democracy Begins Here!” From the classrooms where students learn to raise their voices, to the neighborhoods that unite us, to the local NYC government where change takes shape—democracy starts with YOU!
In fact, democracy can even start with your bookshelf—this week, check out a few of our favorite titles that encourage civic engagement, with these book recommendations that will help students of all ages learn about our three branches of government, how to run and participate in elections, the power of protest, and the importance of media literacy, in addition to other important topics.
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots, by Michael Rex
- Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down, by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney
- Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts
- V is for Voting, by Kate Farrell; illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald
- What Would You Do with A Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, by Chris Barton; illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything, by Annette Bay Pimentel; illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
- Free for You and Me; What our First Amendment Means, by Christy Mihaly; illustrated by Manu Montoya
- No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History, edited by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley; illustrated by Jeanette Bradley
- A Small History of Disagreement, by Claudio Fuentes; illustrated by Gabriela Lyon
- Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez, by Larry Dane Brimner; illustrated by Maya Gonzalez
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramée
- March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine, by Melba Pattillo Beals; illustrated by Frank Morrison
- Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, by Susan Zimet and Todd Hasak-Lowy
- The Constitution Decoded: A Guide to the Document that Shapes Our Nation, by Katie Kennedy; illustrated by Ben Kirchner
- Together We March: 25 Protest Movements that Marched into History, by Leah Henderson; illustrated by Tyler Feder
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir, by Malaka Gharib
- Run (Book 1), by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell
- Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance, edited by Bethany C. Morrow
- Vote! Women’s Fight for Access to the Ballot Box, by Coral Celeste Frazer
- Votes of Confidence: A Young Person’s Guide to American Elections, by Jeff Fleischer
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 Civics for All Civics for All Collection.
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
During February 10–14, 2025, New York City Public Schools commemorated Respect for All Week, with each day focused on a particular theme:
- Monday, February 10: Celebrating Kindness/Be an Ally
- Tuesday, February 11: Anti-Bullying/Cyberbullying
- Wednesday, February 12: Respect for Diversity, Disability, Religious Acceptance and Racial Diversity
- Thursday, February 13: Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and LGBTQ Pride and Acceptance
- Friday, February 14: National No One Eats Alone Day
Be inspired by how students across all five boroughs participated in activities focused on spreading respect, kindness, and acceptance, and celebrated the diversity across schools, their communities and the City.
Education councils help shape policies and priorities for NYC Public Schools. Learn all about New York City's Community and Citywide Education Councils, what they do, and how you can get involved.
Take the 2025 NYC School Survey today!
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!
Prepare for Remote Learning
In the event that weather conditions or other emergencies require the temporary closure of public school buildings, students will participate in remote learning at home. Make sure your family is ready with these tips and answers to frequently asked questions.
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
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!
