The coronavirus pandemic has transformed education for millions of students across the city (and the country and in many parts of the world), as learning is now taking place through video chats, pre-recorded lectures, or by posted assignments. Yet these changes, conducted and supervised by school administrators and teachers, were made with little or no input from students themselves, the very people for whom education matters most.

We think it is essential that student voices are heard at this moment, but not simply on the ‘how’ of their education. We want to hear what they think about the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of education as well. With schools closed for the rest of the academic year (and no guarantee of re-opening in September), we believe that this is a moment that calls for big thinking and new perspectives. So we are inviting New York City students to join our virtual community dialogues on re-imagining what education and learning could be. In these Zoom sessions, students will collaboratively reason about what THEY think New York City schools can and should be.

What does school mean to you?

Is it necessary?

What would a student-centered education look like?

What subjects should be taught?

Should students be given more freedom to organize their own education? 

Are there certain things every student should learn?

How would learning be assessed?

And why would these re-imagined schools be better than what we have now?

These are just some of the questions we want to center in our discussions with you, discussions that will go where you take them.

Virtual discussion forums will take place via Zoom and begin the week of May 11th. These forums are FREE and open to NYC public school students. Students who register below will be sent the relevant information for logging into the forums. We look forward to thinking with you!

Elementary school students (grades 3-5): Mondays, 3-4pm.

Middle school students (grades 6-8): Wednesdays, 3-4pm.

High school students (grades 9-12): Fridays, 3-4pm.