Chancellor Kamar Samuels Announces District Working Groups As First Step Towards A Stronger School System

Watch the fireside chat here.

NEW YORK -- New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels today announced in a fireside chat alongside author Heather McGhee, the launch of District Working Groups in five school districts tasked with creating customized proposals to accelerate the work of building a stronger school system, rooted in academically rigorous, safe and integrated schools. This means ensuring every student has access to a high-quality public education by maintaining high expectations, meeting students where they are, providing research-based supports and expanded opportunities to succeed, and creating school communities where all students feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. This work is also defined by a truly integrated school system - beyond simply demographic inclusivity, but a focus on diversity of ability, socioeconomic status, and language.

Beginning this month and continuing throughout the year, in Districts 3, 7, 13, 16, and 25, working groups comprised of teachers, principals, parent leaders, and community organizations will collaborate on strategies to address structural and instructional inequities in their district. Convened by district superintendents, each working group will have autonomy on how they conduct this work, but all will have monthly working group sessions to collaboratively develop plans to address their district's unique and complex challenges. Superintendents in these districts will also work directly with NYCPS's central leadership team to review data and evaluate how it could be used to support a truly integrated system.

"A truly integrated school offers more than demographic diversity - it provides accelerated and remedial coursework, robust arts programming, multilingual learner services, IEP specialists, mental health support, and an engaged family community," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "As a strategy, that means understanding each community's unique needs, expanding access to specialized programming, distributing resources equitably across schools, and equipping educators with culturally responsive materials and training. Ultimately, if one of our students first encounters peers from different backgrounds when they go off to college or start their first job, we have failed them."

"Schools are for creating citizens. That means people who know how to be in community, to learn and listen across difference," said Heather McGhee, author. "The research all points to the importance of school integration to educational outcomes and to civic health. Truly integrated schools are the gift we can give our children, now more than ever."

"I am delighted that CSD 3 will be included in the list of District Working Groups, focused on safe, rigorous, integrated learning," said Gale A. Brewer, City Council 6th District. "I have been a participant in intra-school discussions in the past, and the dialogue is always meaningful if sometimes difficult. Under this Chancellor, I know that the Working Groups will be successful."

"Strong schools are built with communities. That's why I'm excited for the launch of these District Working Groups, and to have CEC 13 included," said Crystal Hudson, City Council 35th District. "The families, educators, and local leaders who show up every day know both the strengths of each school and the challenges that still need to be addressed. Bringing those voices together is how we create solutions that reflect the realities of each district while ensuring every student has access to the opportunities and support they deserve. I look forward to seeing what comes out of this process, and how it helps move us toward a stronger, more equitable school system."

"The Integration Coalition is heartened by today's announcement of the formation of District Working Groups across five NYC public school community districts," said The Integration Coalition members. "Concrete efforts to advance school integration have been stagnant for far too long, and we welcome this as a meaningful next step toward realizing what a truly integrated school system can look like. We know that advancing Real Integration means more than a sole focus on student composition. It must also account for what happens once students are inside school walls, whether their lived experiences are valued and treated as assets to their learning through a culturally responsive education; whether they feel safe and supported; whether school staff and faculty are reflective of students' broad lived experiences; and whether their communities have an equitable allocation of resources to meet their needs. These are exactly the kinds of questions we anticipate and encourage district working groups to take on. We see this as a step in the right direction, and we look forward to learning more about the structure and process of these working groups as details emerge. Our coalition members have proven research, recommendations, and innovative processes to support this work, and we stand ready to be collaborative partners."

"New York Appleseed is encouraged by today's announcement of the formation of district working groups, launching across five New York City school districts," said Nyah Berg, Executive Director, New York Appleseed. "We have seen firsthand what is possible when communities and school leaders are engaged and supported in processes to make their schools more inclusive, equitable, and truly integrated. District 15 is a powerful example of that. We look forward to learning more about the structure of these working groups and how they will ensure that students and families from diverse backgrounds and experiences have a meaningful seat at the table. Appleseed stands ready to support these working groups in a mission of dismantling the deeply entrenched consequences of segregation that have for too long shaped the experiences of students across New York City's public schools."

This work will continue to roll out in phases with the goal of implementing working groups in every school district by 2028.