Essential education reporting across America
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Reema Amin

Reporter, Chalkbeat New York

Reema Amin covers New York City public schools. Before Chalkbeat, she covered city and state government for the Daily Press in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region and was a breaking news reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times. Reema received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in public affairs journalism from Columbia College Chicago.

Men and women wearing bright pink, green and yellow traditional clothing dance and play percussion instruments on a stage in Manhattan’s Times Square.
From Chalkbeat New York Diversity & Equity
Diwali inches closer to becoming a New York state and federally recognized school holiday
Also known as the “festival of lights,” Diwali is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists as a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil.
By Reema Amin
 
Students sit in a classroom wearing masks while a teacher leads a lesson in front of a screen.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
NYC’s Summer Rising program rejected 45,000 applicants, launching scramble for child care
With just a month until the school year ends, families are scrambling to find alternate summer programs for their children.
By Reema Amin
 
Chancellor David Banks welcomes students back on the first day of classes in NYC.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
NYC plans to keep school budgets steady to start the year, but could make cuts later
The decision to start the new school year with steady budgets, however, doesn’t mean schools are completely immune from cuts.
By Reema Amin and Alex Zimmerman
 
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
 
Preschoolers’ jackets and boots or shoes are lined up in their cubbies.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
Families and advocates fear end of NYC’s first free child care program for undocumented immigrants
Mayor Eric Adams has proposed ending Promise NYC, which has provided free child care to 600 undocumented immigrant children.
By Reema Amin
 
woman in orange pantsuit reads to students
From Chalkbeat New York Early Childhood Education
Boosting salaries and extending hours: NYC Council makes list of demands to improve public preschool programs
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams blasted the mayor’s approach to early childhood education, describing the system as “broken” and “in full crisis mode.
By Reema Amin
 
A student, wearing a yellow sweater, writes on a whiteboard that hangs on a bright yellow wall.
From Chalkbeat New York English language learners
With wave of asylum seekers, NYC schools struggle to provide mandated English instruction
As the city expects another wave of newcomer immigrant families, educators are worried it will become even more challenging to support English learners.
By Reema Amin
 
Students raise their hands in the classroom, with the text “Plains Indians” projected on the white board at the front of the class.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
Increased school funding and more charter schools included in New York state budget
In total, New York City schools will receive about 4% more in funding than last year.
By Reema Amin
 
An exterior shot of the New York State Capitol building in Albany, N.Y.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
More than a dozen NYC charters would open after 4-year pause under state budget deal
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push for more charter schools in New York City emerged as one of the last items holding up the overdue state budget — and her keen interest puzzled many following the issue.
By Reema Amin
 
A man stands at a podium flanked by two people on either side.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
NYC’s education budget could drop by $960M next year under mayor’s proposal
Two-thirds of that cut, or about $650 million, is the result of Adams’ decision to reduce the city’s contribution to the education department.
By Alex Zimmerman and Reema Amin
 
A close up of a woman in front of an American flag.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
Charter schools emerge as key issue holding up New York’s state budget, as Hochul narrows her proposal
Lawmakers could solidify a final budget as early as this week, but charter schools have been a sticking point.
By Reema Amin
 
A close up of graduates wearing blue gowns and mortar boards with gold stoles.
From Chalkbeat New York College and career readiness
Timeline fast tracked for rethinking NY’s Regents exams and other diploma changes
A state-appointed commission will present its recommendations this November — moving up the timeline by at least a few months. The role of New York’s Regents exams remains a big question.
By Reema Amin
 
Several parents and their children wait outside of a school building before the start of a summer program. They are all wearing protective masks.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
Summer Rising applications are now open. Here’s everything you need to know
In its third year, the program will again have 110,000 spots and will be open to any child in New York City — but there are a couple changes to the application process.
By Reema Amin
 
Students at P.S. 89 in Brooklyn await their families at the end of the school day during the last week of New York City’s 2020-2021 school year.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
As NYC enrollment has dropped, per-student spending has grown past $37K: report
The education department’s spending per pupil has increased by 46%, in large part due to the billions in federal COVID aid the district received as enrollment has dipped.
By Reema Amin
 
Someone’s hand types on a laptop as light shines through blinds onto the desk.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
Sprawling device tracking project put on hold in New York City schools
The project involved counting up technology such as tablets, laptops, desktop computers, printers, and smartboards.
By Reema Amin
 
Two students in masks watch a cooking demonstration.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
NYC’s summer youth jobs program will again have 100K spots. Here’s how to apply.
New features this summer include an effort to pair LGBTQ youth with affirming jobs and a small program to serve undocumented youth.
By Reema Amin
 
Students sit at white desks taking exams with paper and pencil
From Chalkbeat New York Assessment and testing
Your guide to state testing season for NYC students in grades 3-8
There might be more attention on this year’s state tests, following the spotlight on last year’s dip in national test scores.
By Reema Amin
 
People stand outside with protest signs
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
After a lengthy debate, NYC education panel approves preliminary $30.7B budget for schools
The vote by the city’s 23-member board — largely comprised by mayoral appointees — is not the final step for the agency’s budget.
By Reema Amin
 
Children sitting at tables give a thumps up to a teacher in the background
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
NYC’s Summer Rising program will prioritize students in city-run after-school programs
In one significant change, students who are already attending one of the city’s hundreds of DYCD-run after-school programs will also receive priority for Summer Rising.
By Reema Amin
 
An overhead view of the NY Assembly room with red carpets and rows of yellow chairs
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
New York lawmakers reject Gov. Hochul’s charter school proposal
Both the state Senate and Assembly called to remove Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow New York City to open more than 100 new charter schools.
By Reema Amin and Alex Zimmerman
 
Students sit at a table with laptops.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
More devices in classrooms leads more NYC teachers to use tech with instruction
The seismic shift that made devices more accessible to students than ever before has now pushed some teachers to fold technology more often into their lesson plans.
By Reema Amin
 
Two pairs of hands are shown working on an activity for young children. The smaller pair of hands holds a marker and a marker cap, while the larger pair of hands points to the paper.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
As NYC ditches universal 3-K, city hires consultant to study where to move seats
The study comes after Mayor Eric Adams decided earlier this year to pause the expansion of the preschool program for 3-year-olds as planned under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
By Reema Amin
 
A sign for a CUNY campus with NYC silver subway trains running above ground over it.
From Chalkbeat New York College and career readiness
To boost enrollment, CUNY temporarily waives application fee for NYC high school seniors
The move could boost enrollment at CUNY’s undergraduate schools and programs as college enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels.
By Reema Amin
 
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
 
A man in an apron and white shirt stands in the middle of a crowd of people sitting in chairs.
From Chalkbeat New York LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ youth can apply for ‘affirming’ summer jobs under NYC program
Details are so far scarce on what “SYEP Pride” will look like, or what will define a safe and affirming workplace, but officials are hoping to reach “a few hundred” youth.
By Reema Amin
 
Students walk down the side walk with a tree and cars on the right side.
From Chalkbeat New York Mental Health in Schools
NY’s budget has $100M for academic and mental health programs. Schools still don’t have the money.
With the majority of the school year now over, school districts haven’t been able to apply for the grant money due to a lengthy bureaucratic process.
By Reema Amin
 
A young student wearing headphones and working on a laptop. The foreground is a close up of the child’s head with the laptop in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Remote learning
NYC bought hundreds of thousands of devices for remote learning. Now they’re trying to track those devices — and all other school technology.
Although schools keep a record of devices, city watchdogs have criticized the education department for having no centralized system.
By Reema Amin
 
A large ornate white building seen from a distance
From Chalkbeat New York Early Childhood Education
Adams creates new City Hall office for NYC child care, early childhood education
The office’s creation comes as the education department’s own early childhood office has faced intense scrutiny over the past several months under Adams’ leadership.
By Reema Amin
 
Students raise their hands in the classroom, with the text “Plains Indians” projected on the white board at the front of the class.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
Anticipating challenges to new class size law, Banks will launch ‘working group’
Banks revealed the plan Wednesday while outlining the financial costs of lowering newly required class sizes over the next five years.
By Reema Amin
 
A masked woman receives a shot from a doctor.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID and Schools
Mayor Eric Adams drops COVID vaccine requirement for NYC employees and public school visitors
Monday’s announcement represents the Adams administration’s gradual unpeeling of COVID-related rules established under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
By Reema Amin