The first day of school looked very different in a world in the midst of a public health crisis. There were few pictures outside by parents, showing off their children’s new clothes or holding lunchboxes and backpacks. There were no tearful goodbyes before getting on the bus or after walking to school. more

The city’s public school system used to be notorious for keeping its doors open, even during inclement weather. And on the rare occasions public schools did close, it was a cause for celebration, in addition to playing in the snow and sipping hot chocolate on an unexpected day off. more

Whether waiting for a bus, an appointment or otherwise, delays are not easy to deal with. But when the delay involves vital safety information, it can become anxiety-inducing, in addition to just frustrating. This was the case for the city’s public school teachers last week. more

He says he was skeptical schools truly would be ready to start Sept. 10. But now that the beginning of the academic year has been delayed until Sept. 21, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz feels the city made the right call to do so. more

When Columbia University — and the rest of the city — shut down in mid-March, one of the first things Ernest Robertson thought about was the kids. more

Just hours before the city’s largest teachers union was ready to call for a strike, Mayor Bill de Blasio conceded a two-week standoff that would push back the physical reopening of school campuses by nearly two weeks. more

The United Federation of Teachers filed for injunctive relief against city schools chancellor Richard Carranza on Sept. 4, following the delay in reopening physical public school campuses. more

Cuts, scrapes and bruises are common injuries among children. And when they happen at school, more often than not, there’s a nurse nearby to patch them up and send them back to class. more

Empty your pockets. Take off your belt and your shoes. Hope you don’t have to undergo “the wand.” It’s what we must endure to get on an airplane. But for Bryan Aju, it’s what she and other students face just to get to class. more

It’s no easy feat to reopen the largest public school district in the country. And the attempt to do so is causing a power struggle between Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city’s teachers. more