New York City Department of EducationZohran Mamdani

NYC parent coordinators: Mamdani says he’ll change your role. We want to hear from you.

By 
Abigail Kramer
 | January 7, 2026, 10:03pm UTC
A photograph of a group of adult in suits and jackets cross the street at a cross walk on a cloudy, cold winter day.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to change the role of school parent coordinators. (Michael Appleton / Mayoral Photography Office)

Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox.

The day before his inauguration, New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, said that he wants to “improve the parent coordinator role to be a meaningful organizer of parents, rather than an administrative coordinator reporting to a principal.”

Parent coordinators play many essential roles in their school communities, from welcome committee to tech support to de facto social worker. Historically, some parent coordinators have called on the city to give them better training and a clearer job description. Many have said that they feel undervalued and underpaid.

Chalkbeat wants to hear from parent coordinators: How do you see your role now? What do you think of Mamdani’s goal? What do you want the new mayor to know about your job?

Help us understand by taking our survey.

If you are having trouble viewing this form, go here.

The Latest
Colorado lawmakers want the state to step in for a diminished Office of Civil Rights

Colorado Democratic lawmakers hope to file two bills this year that increase the state’s ability to monitor and enforce civil rights and disability accommodations violations.

By 
Jason Gonzales
 | Today, 3:37am UTC
Multiple parents detained by ICE in Ypsilanti

A letter shared with the Ypsilanti school community didn’t indicate whether any children were detained.

By 
Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance
 | January 28
Philadelphia school board will consider school closure plan in February, with a vote coming later

Many school communities hope leaders will soften the district’s proposal to close 20 schools beginning in 2027.

By 
Rebecca Redelmeier
,
Sammy Caiola
and
Carly Sitrin
 | Today, 12:53am UTC
NYC school may miss looming class size mandates, top education leaders warn

NYC needs 6,000 teachers and billions in funding to meet class size caps. NYC chancellor Kamar Samuels and state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa expressed concerns.

By 
Abigail Kramer
 | Today, 12:22am UTC
Lawmakers approve carve-out for charter schools over control of buildings

Charters within Indianapolis Public Schools borders could choose not to give control of their school buildings over to the proposed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation under a bill lawmakers advanced Thursday. The updated language also clarifies who can close schools.

By 
Amelia Pak-Harvey
 | January 29
Concerns grow that Philadelphia’s school closure plan disadvantages some neighborhoods

Nine of the 20 schools the district wants to close are in areas it has identified as vulnerable, based on neighborhood social factors and prior school closures.

By 
Rebecca Redelmeier
 | January 29