Message for Our Chancellor

The Importance of Hearing from You

Dear Families and Colleagues,

Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that the best way for our teachers and school leaders to understand what’s working in their schools is to hear directly from the families and students they serve. Are students receiving the support they need to thrive in school and beyond? Do teachers have sufficient guidance and resources? Are we responding to our families’ needs? And do students feel safe and supported throughout the school day?

The answers to these questions, and others like them, help us make our classrooms and school communities more engaging and responsive to students and families alike. In this spirit, I am excited to announce the launch of the 2026 NYC School Survey.

From February 9 through April 1, 2026, we’re asking New York City Public Schools families, teachers, and staff members, as well as students in grades 6–12, to take the 2026 NYC School Survey and let us know about your experiences in our schools. Your answers on the survey will provide our school leaders with vital information as they plan for next year and beyond.

I encourage you to share your feedback and let us know what you think about your schools—we won’t see your individual responses, so please feel free to be open and honest about your experiences this year. Visit NYCSchoolSurvey.org today to learn more about this year’s survey, and make your voice heard!

In partnership,

Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor

The Chancellor’s Spotlight:

Speaking of hearing from you, I’m also excited to announce that I will be hosting community conversations across the City, focused on the future of NYC Public Schools.

I invite you to join me at Our Schools. Our Future, a series of 10 in-person events bringing students, families, educators, staff members, and community partners together for a dialogue about where our schools are today and where we must go next. Together, we’ll discuss school safety, academic rigor, and true integration, and what these look like in our schools and classrooms. I also want to hear directly from you about how we can better engage and empower family and community voices.

Join us for a conversation at one of these conversations; I look forward to seeing you there.

NYCPS News and Resources:

• Respect for All Week takes place February 9–13, 2026; connect with your parent coordinator to learn how your child’s school is celebrating RFA Week this year.
• The last day to submit a 3-K or Pre-K application for fall 2026 admissions is February 27, 2026.
• For more news and resources, subscribe to The Morning Bell and follow NYCPS online at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.