Nov 2 – Nov 8, 2026 · A 5-minute read from LEDbetter's Great School Voices
Good morning! Here's what New York educators need to know this week, from Albany to your classroom. Here's what's going on: election week settled who governs, and the fight over what a New York diploma means started right away.
New here? Subscribe to get this every Monday morning.
This Week's Must Reads
1. Hochul criticizes plan to drop Regents exams, renews push for control of state Education Department Alex Zimmerman | Chalkbeat New York — Hochul warned the Regents phaseout has no clear replacement plan and said that on education "the buck should stop with me."
Why it matters: The Regents now decide what replaces the exams after the class of 2027.
In related coverage:
2. Kathy Hochul reelected as New York governor CBS New York — Hochul beat Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by about 20 points, winning a second full term in a race fought mostly over affordability.
Why it matters: She writes the state budget, Foundation Aid included, for four more years.
3. NYC proposes closing 2 tiny Harlem schools and moving popular Upper West Side middle school Alex Zimmerman | Chalkbeat New York — The Mamdani administration's first closure plans target SEED Harlem (40 students) and Global Commerce (112), with a Panel vote on Dec. 16.
Why it matters: With enrollment falling, more closures are coming; small schools should make their case now.
4. The US ranks last in teacher pay worldwide Anna Merod | K-12 Dive — Brookings found U.S. primary teachers earn about two-thirds of what other college graduates make, the worst gap among 30-plus countries.
Why it matters: Low pay makes ENL and special ed vacancies even harder to fill.
5. NYC schools' standoff with Google over AI raises prospect of no search in class Jessica Gould | Gothamist — Google said schools that turn off its AI would lose Google Search, a direct hit to NYC's AI moratorium, then partly walked it back.
Why it matters: If your school limits AI, check which Google tools change early next year. (Google's partial reversal)
Dates to Know
Early November — NYSED expects to publicly release final 2026 grades 3–8 test results. NYSED
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day: NYC public schools closed. NYC Public Schools
Nov. 12 — NYC parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and D75; students dismissed three hours early. NYC Public Schools
Nov. 19–20 — NYC high school, K–12 and 6–12 parent-teacher conferences; early dismissal Nov. 20. NYC Public Schools
Dec. 16 — Panel for Educational Policy expected to vote on the Harlem closures and Center School move. Chalkbeat
Quick Hits
At the State Level
Governor Hochul Announces 2026 Master Counselors and Master Teachers Office of the Governor — New York added 188 STEM Master Teachers and 24 Master Counselors, each earning a $15,000 yearly stipend over four years. (details)
New York 2026 Election Results MultiState — Based on races called so far, Democrats regained a veto-proof supermajority in the state Senate and kept theirs in the Assembly.
Metro NYC
NYC sends 30% of students with emotional disabilities to segregated schools. Is this program a way out? Abigail Kramer | Chalkbeat New York — In eight schools, NYU's Path program puts four students with emotional disabilities in each class of 16–20, trading punishment for empathy.
Go deeper: Our Educator Spotlight on the social emotional needs of students with disabilities offers classroom strategies along the same lines.
Around New York
Long Island
Student stabbed in Long Island high school parking lot; 15-year-old in custody FOX 5 NY — A 16-year-old was seriously hurt at dismissal outside Sachem High School East in Farmingville, and a 15-year-old is in custody. Suffolk police are adding patrols at the school.
Big City Districts
Buffalo: Questions remain as BPS faces multi-million-dollar deficit (WIVB) — The CFO says closing or reconfiguring eight schools would save $18 million a year. Without closures, the district projects a $90–100 million deficit and cuts of nearly 200 jobs plus athletics and summer school. No vote date is set; the board meets Nov. 18.
Rochester: Rochester Board of Education outlines its priorities for state lawmakers (WXXI) — The board laid out what it wants from Albany in the coming session.
National News & Perspectives
What the Midterm Elections Could Mean for Schools: 4 Takeaways Matthew Stone & Yi-Jo Shen | Education Week — Democrats won both chambers of Congress, giving them more leverage to push back on Trump administration education policies.
What a Trump Admin. Review of Civil Rights Guidance May Mean for Schools Mark Walsh | Education Week — The Education Department has begun reviewing civil rights guidance issued under the Obama and Biden administrations.
City & State Roundup
Classroom Connections
Fake AI Images Are Targeting Students and Teachers. Schools Aren't Prepared Olina Banerji | Education Week — New EdWeek Research Center data show many educators aren't up to speed on the risks deepfakes pose to students and staff.
The Research on AI in Education Is a Mess Stephen Sawchuk | Education Week — A new review finds the big studies claiming AI boosts learning are deeply flawed. Be skeptical of vendor research.
Research Pick: Low-income elementary math achievers underrepresented, NWEA finds Naaz Modan | K-12 Dive — Low-income students are more than half of U.S. students but only 20% of top math scorers, and early high-achievers often lose that status by 4th grade.
From the Blogosphere
'Not Limited to Test Scores': How to Get Savvier About Using Student Data Larry Ferlazzo | Education Week Classroom Q&A — Teachers share where to find student data that is more useful than dashboards and apps, and how to use it to improve instruction.
Good News from NY Schools
West Islip Community 'Glows' Together Long Island Media Group — Hundreds of people turned out at West Islip High School on Nov. 4 for the district Health and Wellness Alliance's third annual Glow Run.
Know a win we should share? Tell us in the comments.
What did we miss? Hit us up in the comments below.
Know a colleague who'd use this? Share this post or send them the sign-up link.
The NY Education Week in Review is part of Great School Voices from LEDbetter. Read past issues at led-better.org/blog. West Coast news: Great School Voices Oakland.
The NY Education Week in Review · Nov. 2 – 8, 2026 · from LEDbetter's Great School Voices
Good morning! Here's what New York educators need to know this week, from Albany to your classroom. Election week settled who governs, and the fight over what a New York diploma means started right away.
New here? Subscribe to get this every Monday morning.
- Hochul won reelection and wants control of the state Education Department as the Regents exams phase out.
- Democrats won both the House and Senate, so starting in January Congress can investigate the Education Department's breakup.
- NYC proposed its first school closures under Mayor Mamdani; the vote is Dec. 16.
- Google told schools that turn off its AI they'd lose Search, then partly backed down.
This Week's Must Reads
Hochul warned the Regents phaseout has no clear replacement plan and said that on education "the buck should stop with me."
Hochul beat Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by about 20 points, winning a second full term in a race fought mostly over affordability.
Democrats took control of both the House and Senate and flipped five governorships. Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee, told K-12 Dive he plans to investigate the Trump administration's approach to education.
The Education Department has begun reviewing civil rights guidance issued under the Obama and Biden administrations.
The Mamdani administration's first closure plans target SEED Harlem (40 students) and Global Commerce (112), with a Panel vote on Dec. 16.
Brookings found U.S. primary teachers earn about two-thirds of what other college graduates make, the worst gap among 30-plus countries.
Google said schools that turn off its AI would lose Google Search, a direct hit to NYC's AI moratorium, then partly walked it back.
Dates to Know
NYC parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and D75; students dismissed three hours early.
NYC Public SchoolsNYC high school, K–12 and 6–12 parent-teacher conferences; early dismissal Nov. 20.
NYC Public SchoolsPanel for Educational Policy expected to vote on the Harlem closures and Center School move.
ChalkbeatQuick Hits
At the State Level
- Governor Hochul Announces 2026 Master Counselors and Master TeachersOffice of the Governor
New York added 188 STEM Master Teachers and 24 Master Counselors, each earning a $15,000 yearly stipend over four years. (details)
- New York 2026 Election ResultsMultiState
Based on races called so far, Democrats regained a veto-proof supermajority in the state Senate and kept theirs in the Assembly.
Metro NYC
- NYC sends 30% of students with emotional disabilities to segregated schools. Is this program a way out?Chalkbeat New York · Abigail Kramer
In eight schools, NYU's Path program puts four students with emotional disabilities in each class of 16–20, trading punishment for empathy.
Around New York
Long Island
- Student stabbed in Long Island high school parking lot; 15-year-old in custodyFOX 5 NY
A 16-year-old was seriously hurt at dismissal outside Sachem High School East in Farmingville, and a 15-year-old is in custody. Suffolk police are adding patrols at the school.
Big City Districts
- Buffalo: Questions remain as BPS faces multi-million-dollar deficitWIVB
The CFO says closing or reconfiguring eight schools would save $18 million a year. Without closures, the district projects a $90–100 million deficit and cuts of nearly 200 jobs plus athletics and summer school. No vote date is set; the board meets Nov. 18.
- Rochester: Board of Education outlines its priorities for state lawmakersWXXI
The board laid out what it wants from Albany in the coming session.
City & State Roundup
Classroom Connections
- Fake AI Images Are Targeting Students and Teachers. Schools Aren't PreparedEducation Week · Olina Banerji
New EdWeek Research Center data show many educators aren't up to speed on the risks deepfakes pose to students and staff.
- The Research on AI in Education Is a MessEducation Week · Stephen Sawchuk
A new review finds the big studies claiming AI boosts learning are deeply flawed. Be skeptical of vendor research.
Low-income students are more than half of U.S. students but only 20% of top math scorers, and early high-achievers often lose that status by 4th grade.
From the Blogosphere
- 'Not Limited to Test Scores': How to Get Savvier About Using Student DataEducation Week Classroom Q&A · Larry Ferlazzo
Teachers share where to find student data that is more useful than dashboards and apps, and how to use it to improve instruction.
Good News from NY Schools
Hundreds of people turned out at West Islip High School on Nov. 4 for the district Health and Wellness Alliance's third annual Glow Run.
Know a win we should share? Tell us in the comments.
What did we miss? Hit us up in the comments below. Know a colleague who'd use this? Share this post or send them the sign-up link.
The NY Education Week in Review is part of Great School Voices from LEDbetter. Read past issues at led-better.org/blog. West Coast news: Great School Voices Oakland.
