Essential education reporting across America
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Amy Zimmer

Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat New York

Amy Zimmer is the Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat New York. She is an award-winning journalist who previously covered education for the New York news site DNAinfo. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Metro newspaper, and City Limits, among other outlets. Her book, “Meet Miss Subways,” focused on one of the nation’s first integrated beauty contests. She also led content strategy at the tech startup Localize.city. Amy received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Yale and has a master’s in journalism from New York University.

A flooded street with some cars partially under water
From Chalkbeat New York School safety
As NYC flooded, Eric Adams ordered schools to shelter in place. No one told principals.
An education department spokesperson said the agency communicated through a press conference and social media. But no one communicated directly to principals.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney, Amy Zimmer, and 1 more
 
Cars drive through a flooded street.
From Chalkbeat New York Eric Adams
Flooding hits 150 NYC schools, upends commutes
The downpour affected service on every subway line, delayed dozens of school buses, and prompted both NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul to issue a state of emergency.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney, Alex Zimmerman, and 2 more
 
A gloved hand applies a flesh-colored bandaid to a child’s arm. The child is wearing a pink and white tie-dyed shirt rolled up to the shoulder. A few strands of dark hair are visible on the child’s shoulder.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID safety
Here’s what to know about COVID guidance at NYC schools this year
NYC schools no longer will report COVID cases, but students and staff still need to isolate for five days.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A child in a blue shirt walks under an archway of blue and orange balloons, with other people in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Eric Adams
Back to school for NYC’s nearly 900,000 students brings smiles and sweat
Students returned to the city’s nearly 1,600 schools on a sweltering Thursday as a possible bus strike loomed.
By Amy Zimmer, Michael Elsen-Rooney, and 2 more
 
Parents fill the red chairs of a school auditorium.
From Chalkbeat New York Campaigns and elections
Internal strife roils NYC schools office that administers parent-led boards elections
Only about 2% of NYC parents voted in the recent community education council elections. Turmoil in the office administering the elections may have hurt turnout, some say.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A teen wearing headphones is standing outside in a leafy neighborhood.
From Chalkbeat New York Mental Health in Schools
Mental health struggles often kept them home from school. But these students still made it to graduation.
NYC social workers say they are dealing with more extreme cases of school refusal, fueled in part by an alarming rise in suicidal ideation.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Mayor Eric Adams joins Chancellor David Banks and Assemblymember Rajkumar to celebrate Diwali becoming a public-school holiday. City Hall. Monday, June 26, 2023.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
NYC updates 2023-24 school calendar, adding 4 more days off
The changes mean that there will be 178 instructional days for students on the calendar down from the original 182.
By Alex Zimmerman and Amy Zimmer
 
Education department officials took questions from parents regarding plans to integrate middle schools at a Community Education Council District 28 meeting in December 2019.
From Chalkbeat New York Campaigns and elections
PLACE-endorsed candidates win nearly 40% of seats on NYC’s parent councils
The group, which favors screened school admissions, endorsed 147 candidates across the city’s 32 local school district council seats, with 115 of them winning their races.
By Amy Zimmer and Reema Amin
 
Stuyvesant High School will begin participating in the Discovery program this year.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
Black and Latino enrollment in NYC specialized high school integration program still lags
The Discovery program helps low-income students who scored just below the cutoff on the entry test get into specialized high schools. Asian American students are the majority of Discovery participants.
By Amy Zimmer
 
NYC_20230424_MulgrewUFT_AlexZimmerman_002.JPG
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
NYC teachers union and Adams administration reach tentative deal on 5-year contract
The tentative deal with the United Federation of Teachers includes annual wage increases between 3% to 3.5% over five years. It follows the pattern of raises set by District Council 37.
By Reema Amin and Amy Zimmer
 
A woman in glasses stands at a podium.
From Chalkbeat New York How I Teach
This Queens math teacher started mentoring Ukrainian educators after Russia’s invasion
Larisa Bukalov, a math teacher at Bayside High School in Queens, began working with educators in her native country of Ukraine after Russia invaded the country.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Two parents pose with their daughter for a portrait in front of a banner that reads, “Back to School.”
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
After frustrating delay, NYC’s 2023-24 school calendar is live
The first day of school is Sept. 7. Spring holidays are spread out next year, with a day off for Good Friday on March 29 and for Eid al-Fitr on April 10, and with a week off for spring break, coinciding with Passover, starting April 22.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A girl sits at a table in a school over a case of essential oils. A pair of scissors, paper, and other materials are on the table.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
NYC school admission offers are out. Here’s what the numbers show.
This year’s offer data shows very little change in racial and economic diversity, particularly for high school, despite seeing the biggest admissions changes.
By Amy Zimmer and Julian Shen-Berro
 
A girl in a pink dress holds a card with a boy’s sad face that says “sad.”
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Many schools opted out of a controversial social-emotional assessment. Now NYC is ditching the tool.
Teachers and parents raised concerns about the DESSA, a social-emotional learning tool that schools began using last year.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A colorful ‘Welcome back to school’ sign is posted on a fence in front of a brick building.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
NYC’s 2023-24 school calendar delay frustrates families and educators
The first day of school is typically the Thursday after Labor Day, but families want confirmation. Other districts finalized their calendars by March.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Teens sit at tables scattered around a classroom working on different projects.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
It’s status quo for class sizes next year under new law, according to NYC’s draft plan
For future school years, education department officials are bracing for some big expenses to comply with the law.
By Amy Zimmer and Reema Amin
 
Lots of people sit crowded in chairs waiting to be relocated
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
What we know (and don’t know) about NYC’s plans to house migrants in school gyms
To house the influx of migrants, New York City might tap up to 20 gyms in public schools to use as shelters, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday. Tensions are rising over the plans.
By Alex Zimmerman and Amy Zimmer
 
Find out how what kinds of mental health resources and support your school offers.
From Chalkbeat New York Mental Health in Schools
How well does your child’s school support student mental health?
We tracked dozens of data points on mental health support in NYC public schools. Do they call 911 on students in crisis? Are there enough social workers and guidance counselors? Find out here.
By Sam Rabiyah, THE CITY, Suhail Bhat, THE CITY, and 1 more
 
Two young girls hold up a card as they talk during a social-emotional learning lesson. They sit on a grey carpet, and there is a drawing in front of them on pink paper that says “uncomfortable” with a drawing of a person holding their abdomen.
From Chalkbeat New York Mental Health in Schools
Need mental health help for your child? Here’s how to get support in NYC schools
Schools are straining to keep up with counseling demand as mental health woes mount for young people. If your child needs help at school, here’s how to start.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Parents and children, some in face masks, walk across an astroturf field with brick walkup apartment buildings in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Student & School Performance
Want to tell NYC how you feel about your child’s school? The annual school survey is your chance.
Does your child feel safe at school? Progressing in reading and math? Do they feel a sense of belonging? New York City’s annual school survey, a massive undertaking, is your chance to share.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Parents and students in bright blue and red costumes line up in front of a school mural outside of a brick building.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Parent coordinators propped up school communities during the pandemic. Many feel undervalued and underpaid.
The role of parent coordinator became more critical and stressful during the pandemic. But salaries for the job, which New York City schools created 20 years ago, have not kept pace.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A man in a gray suit without a tie talks at a podium.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
Teachers buck Mulgrew, petition for referendum vote on Medicare Advantage
UFT president feels pressure from members who demand a union-wide vote on the retiree health care cost savings plan he’s championing.
By Claudia Irizarry Aponte, THE CITY and Amy Zimmer
 
A woman in the foreground in a black T-shirt smiles at the camera while a student in the background makes a silly face.
From Chalkbeat New York How I Teach
How to harness social media to build job skills? This Bronx teacher created a curriculum for that
Cheriece White, an art and technology teacher at Metropolitan Soundview High School, shows her students how to create brands for the companies they dream up. White was a grand prize winner of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A teacher points to a piece of pink construction paper that has a stick figure drawing and the word “uncomfortable” on it. The teacher is sitting on the rug. Only her feet and hands are visible.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Telehealth, suicide prevention, social media guardrails: NYC shares sweeping youth mental health plan
The needs are high as data shows worsening mental health among young people, including more students reporting thoughts of suicide.
By Reema Amin and Amy Zimmer
 
The curved facade of Brooklyn High School for Excellence and Equity in Canarsie. There is an NYPD van parked outside, as well as a standard silver SUV.
From Chalkbeat New York School safety
NYC principals to meet weekly with NYPD to address after-school violence
Schools Chancellor David Banks has been raising the alarm about the recent spate of killings and shootings involving young people, calling it a “state of emergency” that requires more intervention.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney and Amy Zimmer
 
Parents and children walk outside of a school, with basketball courts visible in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
NYC schools want to boost enrollment. It might prove a major challenge.
Students could have fallen off school rosters for being homeschooled without registering with the state or skipping kindergarten. Others might have disengaged during remote learning or amid mental health struggles.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A student in a backpack walks up concrete steps toward green double doors at a school.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
Brooklyn principal leaves middle school after teacher complaints mount
M.S. 51 principal Neal Singh will leave to work for District 15’s superintendent. Pui-Lam (Jack) Chan, from New Utrecht High School, will take over on Feb. 1 as interim principal.
By Amy Zimmer
 
School administrators speak with a family on the first day of school as other parents walk by them outside a brick school building.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Tell us: How has your relationship to school changed since the pandemic started?
Chalkbeat wants to hear from you. How has your relationship with your school community changed since the roller coaster ride of campus closures and openings?
By Amy Zimmer and Caroline Bauman
 
A student holds a sign saying “Public space is not for private profit.”
From Chalkbeat New York Charters & Choice
Success Academy school space-sharing proposals put on hold after Queens and Bronx community uproar
New York City’s education department pulled three proposals to co-locate Success Academy elementary schools in shared campuses after locals mounted campaigns to fight the plans.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A man in a red polo shirt and black sweatpants stands in a school gym.
From Chalkbeat New York How I Teach
This award-winning Queens PE teacher has a big YouTube following for his kid-friendly fitness videos
Queens teacher Thomas Gelardi’s YouTube channel took off during the COVID pandemic. He’s garnered more than 4 million views on his videos that help kids stay active in small spaces.
By Amy Zimmer