Know Your Schools- For NY Kids

The NYKids team is at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Utica as it continues to collect data for its latest study of Positive Outlier Elementary Schools!

School’s out in 3…2…1…

NYKids has exciting new updates to soak in during the summer reset! Stay tuned for our upcoming newsletter highlighting latest research findings and podcast episodes diving into hot topics and promising practices in schools. It’s never too late to subscribe! www.ny-kids.org

Join us, along with the other members of your board, at the Leadership in Education Event on July 24 and 25. It’s a golden opportunity to delve into critical issues as a team and learn alongside your fellow leaders from across the state.

Read more about this year's topics and how to register: https://ow.ly/bs5c50Z5LX7

What happens when a school prioritizes high expectations, belongingness, access to enriching resources, and shared responsibility? The result is successful students who are cared for through equitable collaboration and commitment. Our latest NYKids case study explores the diverse community and promising strategies of Albany School of Humanities (ASH) – Catch up on our latest blog out now! https://ny-kids.org/the-ash-way-collective-responsibility-and-student-success-at-the-albany-school-of-humanities/

The “ASH Way”: Collective Responsibility and Student Success at the Albany School of Humanities | NYKids - University at Albany By Maria I. Khan, Kristen C. Wilcox & Oema Rambharose For over two decades, NYKids has studied positive outlier schools to better understand what is associated with above-predicted student outcomes across diverse educational contexts. Our latest NYKids study explores four interconnected areas: acade...

Save this checklist and use it as a daily reminder to check-in with yourself and create strong and healthy habits. Then, use this collection of peer-hosted videos to help your students start a conversation about mental health!

Collection: https://bit.ly/4u1HMzn

"Over the last two years, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has been engaging in an ambitious effort to transform education in New York State."

In a recent blog, we explored the "Portrait of a Graduate" framework aiming to advance equity in schools through redefining the graduate requirements for students across the state.

Dive into our overview of the state initiative. Learn about its roots in , the significance for NYS education leaders, and the portrait's connection to our current research on elementary schools.

Enhancing Citizenship Skills with New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate | NYKids - University at Albany Over the last two years, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has been engaging in an ambitious effort to transform education in New York State, aligning with the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. One of the major contributions developed through this....

Our Roots. Our Rise. 2025-26 Photo Contest Award Winner Announced:

PR-Communications Grand Prize Winner
Watch Us Grow
Warsaw Central School District | Megan Winter

Each May, Warsaw Elementary School (WES) hosts an Ag/Planting Day for students in grades UPK-5. Members of our agriculture community, including veterinarians, farmers, crop management specialists, and many more, are invited to share their careers with students through hands-on activities. Classes are also invited out to the School Garden, which is located behind WES, to help prepare the high tunnel and raised planters for the season. Through the hands-on agriculture-related activities and planting, students spend the day learning in action and collaborating with community volunteers who have come to help plant. The picture "Watch Us Grow" shows a kindergartner helping to plant at Ag/Planting Day held in May 2025, and perfectly represents the "Our Rise" category. All summer, local families volunteer to tend the School Garden and, in the fall, hundreds of pounds of produce is donated to the Warsaw Food Pantry to benefit local families in need.

Join us July 12–14 in beautiful Lake Placid for the 2026 Rural Schools Association Summer Conference—where tradition meets innovation and the future of our rural schools takes shape.

This year’s theme, Our Roots, Our Rise, celebrates the strength of our communities while spotlighting the bold ideas and collaborative approaches moving us forward.

🌳 Inspiring keynotes
🤝 Meaningful networking
📚 Innovative sessions you can bring back to your district
🌄 And a setting that reminds us why our work matters

Whether you’re a leader, educator, or advocate, this is your space to grow, connect, and lead the way forward—together.

👉 Don’t wait—secure your spot today: https://rsany.org/2026-summer-conference/

Attention rising sixth-ninth graders!
Register using this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctKjhAS7yqRVt3OicARiDEwIH2o0-YcUY9B6mvUwVhLR4Aow/viewform

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, NYSED announced a new series of briefs designed to help districts and schools provide students with mental health services that support their well-being and academic success. https://bit.ly/4tSJX8k

The briefs were created using the comprehensive school-based mental health systems model developed by the National Center for School Mental Health. These resources will help schools establish, strengthen, and sustain systems that promote student wellness through prevention, intervention, and ongoing support within the learning environment. University of Maryland School of Medicine