New York Appleseed’s Response to the Announcement of Five District Working Groups to Advance the Chancellor’s Vision of Academically Rigorous, Safe, and Integrated Public Schools

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 required by Local Law 225 in 2019, following successful engagement seen in districts such as District 15. 

For the past several years, efforts to advance school integration in New York City have been stagnant, leaving too many students in segregated schools in one of the most segregated school systems in the country. That stagnation, however, has not dampened our advocacy. We have continued to support local schools and districts that, even without central support, have worked to further the framework of Real Integration. We are hopeful that this announcement signals a sustained commitment from NYCPS to advance integration and inclusion.

The announcement of these working groups is also a moment for communities, advocates, students, and families to hold NYCPS accountable for turning courageous conversations into courageous policy. These working groups carry a significant responsibility: to define what truly integrated schools look like not only for those within the working groups, but for everyone in their district. The recommendations cultivated from these processes must center and be inclusive of the students who have been historically marginalized––Black and Latine students, marginalized AAPI students, English Language Learners, students with disabilities, students in temporary housing, and students from low-income families. New York Appleseed has long advocated for the kind of community-centered, district-level engagement these working groups can and should represent. Designing a path toward integration requires not only the right values, but the right structures: transparent processes, meaningful community voice, and accountability to the students and families most affected by decades of segregation.

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 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.

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