New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza reports over 175,000 devices are in the hands of students to continue their education as the city’s Department of Education continues to transition to remote learning.
Carranza made the announcement during a community and ethnic media virtual round table where he was joined by Bitta Mostofi, the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Dr. Oxiris Barbot.
During the discussion, Carranza highlighted that devices have been delivered to students via FedEx and UPS and stated that the painstaking task of getting the city’s 1.1 million public school students into remote learning is not easy. Carranza and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year.
“This is a very challenging time,” he said. “If you can imagine taking every school in Los Angeles, adding to that every school in Chicago and adding to that every school in Boston and saying to them in 72 hours you have to completely change the way you teach and learn, and do it remotely, that’s what we’ve done in New York City.”
The chancellor described the process as “flying the plane while building the plane.” A month into remote learning, some areas of the city started as late as this week with remote learning.
‘When the mayor and I made the difficult decision to close schools for the remainder of the school year, it was a very sobering moment for us,” Carranza said. “We agreed that for the health and safety of New Yorkers, it was the best decision. But we also knew that there were a number of things that that brings to the forefront for students and for our parents and our community.”
In an effort to find out more about the needs of students and families, Carranza said there is a survey families can complete on the Department of Education’s website (schools.nyc.gov) or by calling 718-935-5100 and choosing option 5. When a student is in need of a device, Carranza said the gears start moving to get them caught up.
“It’s very important because when a student or family member says, ‘My child or I need a device,’ you get on the list to get a device but that also kicks in a mailing to your home address of two weeks worth of work so you’re actively engaged until you get your device,” Carranza said.
