Reports, News & Updates

NY Appleseed closed out the school year with our annual social filled with joy, laughter, and community. We invited Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari from Alliance for Quality Education to speak, as well as asked folks to provide one thing that gives them hope for the next school year. As we close the chapter on our tenth anniversary and look ahead to the next decade of Appleseed's work, we do so with deep gratitude for our allies' partnership and renewed commitment to creating lasting

Our June newsletter is out! Give it a read here. Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

6.18.26 at 3:00 PM- New York Appleseed is encouraged by today's announcement of the formation of five district working groups across New York City. 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. That is why, for years, we have advocated for the continuation of district diversity working groups in every school district, as initially require

5.28.26 at 2:00 PM- We, the undersigned parents, families, and organizations, urge the New York State Legislature to pass A.8440/S.1018 this legislative session. This legislation would allow Employee Protection Provisions (EPPs) to be included in a competitive rebid of New York City's school bus contracts, and it is an essential next step in reforming the yellow bus system that struggles to adequately serve the approximately 150,000 students who depend on it every day. Parent

Our May newsletter is out! Give it a read here. Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

5.15.26 at 4:00 PM- The Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice recently released New York City's Preliminary Racial Equity Plan, and gave the public an opportunity to provide feedback that will shape the final Citywide Racial Equity Plan. NY Appleseed submitted our comments on how it falls short of explicitly naming ongoing school segregation, identifying the levers that have perpetuated it, or recognizing New York City's place among the most segregated school systems. W

5.13.26 at 4:00 PM- The Integration Coalition met with Chancellor Samuels for a dialogue on school integration and how we can work together to bring forth a shared vision of integration for all students. We discussed capacity for building integration and inclusion, as well as how real integration can be a systemwide goal. We are excited for future collaboration and turning shared values into shared action. Thank you to Vanessa Leung from Coalition for Asian American Children

4.28.25 at 9:00 AM- New York Appleseed commends Chancellor Samuels on the announcement made Monday that NYCPS is pulling the current proposal to open Next Generation Technical High School for the next school year. In our April 17th letter to the Panel for Educational Policy, which has garnered support from over 50 community organizations and parents/caregivers alike, we raised serious concerns that approving a high school touting a screened admissions method contradicts the C

Our April newsletter is out! Give it a read here. Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

4.14.26 at 12:00 PM- Today, Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice and New York Appleseed released Equitably Resourcing the NYC High School Application Process, which makes recommendations on developing tools and resources that empower students and families — particularly those who are historically marginalized, vulnerable, or under-resourced — and continuing the recent progress NYCPS has made in removing the undue burdens associated with applying to high scho

Our March newsletter is out! Give it a read here . Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

3.24.26 at 2:30 PM- My name is Nyah Berg, and I am the Executive Director of New York Appleseed, a nonprofit that advocates for inclusive and integrated schools and communities. I am submitting testimony on behalf of the Integration Coalition, a coalition of organizations and advocates convened by Appleseed to address school segregation through a Real Integration framework and call for a model of solidarity, not scarcity, across NYC public schools. I am here today to call at

Our February newsletter is out! Give it a read here . Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

2.3.26 at 1:00 PM- This past weekend, NY Appleseed co-hosted a youth gathering with @aejc_ny and @thecirclekeepers to educate and uplift youth voices on school segregation and school integration. We started off with some grounding singing to affirm community power and collective care, and then students crafted freedom dreaming collages in response to the question, “How would you envision your school as a safe space that you are excited to learn in?” At the end, they merged

Our January newsletter is out! Give it a read here . Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

1.14.26 at 2:00 PM- Last week, Mayor Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels visited Arts & Letters 305 United, a merged school that equitably brought two different school communities together. NY Appleseed, in collaboration with the NYC Comptroller’s Office, published a report in 2024 highlighting this school as a powerful model for what REAL school integration can look like. The recommendations outlined in the report are perhaps more relevant now than they were in 2024

11.26.25 at 1:00 PM- A big congratulations to our very own Nyah Berg for being appointed to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s Education & Youth Transition Committee, one of 17 committees charged with shaping the incoming administration’s priorities. Bringing years of school integration expertise with her, she will help ensure that the next administration centers the needs of students and families who are too often left out of decision-making. We are proud to see her serve in this

Our November newsletter is out! Give it a read here . Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and consider yourself officially in the know ⬇️

11.21.25 at 12:45 PM – Last night, after months of parents, advocates, and educational justice organizations urging the City not to approve long-term extensions of outdated school bus contracts and the Panel for Education Policy (PEP) opposing 5‑year contract extensions, a 3-year extension has been proposed and adopted. As a coalition, we celebrate the parent, student, and activist voices whose persistence pushed the PEP to hold firm against a 5-year extension. Their testimon