FACE – Family and Community Empowerment Week of July 2nd Wrap-Up – Hamilton Heights

UPDATE: Mayor’s Budget Announcement

Earlier this week, Mayor DeBlasio presented the Recovery Budget, New York City’s $98.6 billion Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). The Recovery Budget is an historic stimulus-driven investment in our comeback that will drive economic growth, lift up working families and small businesses, promote academic and social resilience and ensure a clean and safe city for all. Below are the educational investments that were part of the announcement:

100% Fair Student Funding for schools: $600M in FY22
Universal Free 3-K For All to make 3K available for every family by September 2023: $377M in FY22
Intensive Academic Recovery for Every Student to establish baselines with assessment data, core ELA & Math instruction, tutoring, and teacher planning time: $500M in FY22
Increase Information Technology Support, including digital tools that support technology literacy for every student: $155M in FY22
Hold Schools Harmless for Mid-Year Adjustments: $130M in FY21
Expansion of Restorative Justice for Social Emotional Learning at Middle and High Schools: $12M in FY22
Community Schools in Every District by expanding from 266 to 406 community schools citywide: $10M in FY22
Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) expansion to increase access to sports programming across the city for high school students, focusing on schools with greatest need: $6M in FY22
Strengthening Special Education Services including counseling, physical and speech therapy: $236M in FY22
Expanding Early Childhood Special Education: $22M in FY22

DOE UPDATE: Free Summer Meals

Starting this week and continuing all summer, any New Yorker who wants them can get free “grab & go” meals across the city. The following items may be available at your nearest location: Baked Ravioli, Beef Burgers, Burrito (Southwest), Buttermilk Biscuits, Buttermilk Pancakes, Chicken (Oven-Roasted & Sliders), Fish Patty, French Fries, Garlic Toast, Grilled Cheese, Jamaican Beef Patty, Mac & Cheese, Mozzarella Sticks, Omelet, Pizza, Stuffed Shells, Turkey (Oven-Roasted and Breakfast Sausage Patty) and Waffles.

No registration, documentation, or ID is required to receive a free breakfast or lunch
To find a location: text “NYC FOOD” or “NYC COMIDA” to 877-877
To find a location: call 311
To find a location: visit the online meal hub map or online location list
Meals Hubs are serving breakfast and lunch, Monday–Friday, from 9am – 1pm
Vegetarian meals are available at all locations
Kosher and Halal meals are available at select locations
There will be no service Monday, July 5th (Independence Day Observed) and Tuesday, July 20th (Eid-ul-Adha)
Community Based Organizations may call the Office of Food & Nutrition Services Accounts Receivable department at 718-707-4371, 718-707-4382 or 718-707-4383 for additional information

REGISTER BY JULY 7 – DEADLINE EXTENDED: Family and Community Wellness Collective

The Office of Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) is launching the Family and Community Wellness Collective in partnership with the Division of School Climate and Wellness (DSCW). This initiative is a new parent-facing program, where PAs/PTAs from eligible schools can select a caregiver to participate in a 4-part professional learning series to become their school’s Family Healing Ambassador.

Whether in schools or at home, we want adults to have the tools to support and care for themselves, our young people, and their school community when they are in crisis. Family Healing Ambassadors will participate in a 4-part professional learning series and facilitate a family-facing session at their school in the fall. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a stipend of $500.

Any parent/caregiver in the school community is eligible to participate in the program. We encourage the PA/PTA to use the following criteria when determining who will be the Family Healing Ambassador for your school:

Ensure that the community’s Family Healing Ambassador will have a child in the school in the upcoming school year.
Consult with the School Leadership Team (SLT) when making this selection.
Use a fair and equitable method of deciding who this person will be (ex. collect names and PA/PTA vote).

Please share the flyer (available here in English and Spanish) and program information and details with families. Registration is still open for schools on the original list, if your school is not on the list and you are interested please email FACE@schools.nyc.gov for more information.

4 SUMMER WORKSHOP DATES:

Session 1: July 22, 1:00 pm

*Sessions 2 – 4 have 2 time options on each day, attendance is only required for one of the time options on each day

Session 2: July 27, 10:00 am or 5:00 pm

Session 3: August 3, 10:00 am or 5:00 pm

Session 4: August 10, 10:00 am or 5:00 pm

Optional Session: September 14, 10:00 am or 5:00 pm

September – November 2021 Facilitate workshop in your school community

DOE UPDATE: Summer Rising Begins July 6

Summer Rising is the City’s free summer plan for any child in grades K-12 including students with disabilities, who wants to participate. Families can sign up through the Discover DYCD website. Programs begin on Tuesday, July 6.

You can find the Summer Rising Calendar, Commonly Asked Questions, and more information on the Summer Rising Program on the DOE website.

DOE UPDATE: Pandemic EBT – Families to Receive Food Benefits

The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act reauthorized the payment of P-EBT food benefits to households with children who would have received free school lunches under the National School Lunch Act, if not for a reduction in in-person learning due to the pandemic. These temporary food benefits are being provided to help cover the cost of meals children would have otherwise received at school during the 2020-21 academic year.

Because New York City is a universal school lunch district, all public school families regardless of income will receive the benefits! Families will soon receive up to $1,320 in food benefits to help cover the cost of missed school meals while students learned remotely during the COVID pandemic. You do not (and cannot) apply for Pandemic EBT food benefits. P-EBT food benefits will automatically be issued to eligible children. Read more about it on the NY State announcement and Chalkbeat.

Here’s a helpful 1-pager that describes P-EBT.

DOE UPDATE: Let’s Get Vaccinated!

As we look toward a return to school buildings for every student this fall, it is important to spread the word that everyone age 12 and older is eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccines are essential to stopping this pandemic. When you support COVID-19 vaccination, you help to protect your school and your community against COVID-19.

There are New Yorkers who still have questions or concerns about vaccines, and we are dedicated to addressing them. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is sharing a number of resources with detailed information:

COVID-19: Vaccine webpage: includes the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccines (such as how to find a vaccination site, vaccine eligibility and what you can do once fully vaccinated)
COVID-19: Vaccine Facts webpage: includes information on common issues and questions about the vaccines
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines for Families and Educators
Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccines
Videos

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine or call 311. To find out where you or your loved ones can get vaccinated, visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). You can also sign up by visiting nyc.gov/homebound or calling 877-VAX-4NYC for an in-home vaccination.

UPDATE: Open Meetings Law

The Governor has lifted the state-imposed emergency declaration to curb the spread of COVID-19, which means that public bodies are no longer authorized to hold meetings remotely.

New York’s Open Meetings Law will require all school board meetings to be held in person, according to the state Committee on Open Government. While Citywide and Community Education Councils will be able to use virtual platforms to livestream in-person meetings, a quorum of members must be present in-person, and the public must have access to attend the meeting in-person.

During the last year and a half, we have seen a dramatic increase in attendance in our public meetings. Holding meetings virtually has expanded access for many of our families, and we are advocating for flexibility so that we can continue to incorporate remote participation as we move forward.

That said, until and unless we hear differently from the State, we should be planning for in-person meetings effective immediately. This includes all meetings of the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), Citywide and Community Education Councils (CECs), School Leadership Teams (SLTs), and Joint Public Hearings. This does not include PA/PTA, DLT, Presidents’ Council or CPAC meetings.

Please contact your FACE Liaison and Field Leadership Coordinator for support and to begin making arrangements for upcoming meetings.

DOE UPDATE: Parent University

Summer is Rising on Parent University!

July 2021

Did you know? Parent University offers lots of great FREE programs, courses and events to help you prepare your student for back to school this fall while giving you support as you return to work. Click the links below and enroll today. New courses are added weekly!

Course Title	Category
Introduction to Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy 101	Adult & Continuing Education
Coping With Conflict While at Home Energizers and Calming for the Whole Family!Building Relationships and Connecting While at Home Creating Structures and Routines While at Home Self-care for the Caregiver	Health & Wellness

See you on Parent University!

DOE UPDATE: NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program

NYCDOE has partnered with the nonprofit NYC Kids RISE on the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program. This free program gives qualifying students an NYC Scholarship Account with money for qualified college and career training costs. NYC Kids RISE will open an account in the name of each student and deposit $100 in each account. In addition to this initial deposit, NYC Kids RISE engages communities in raising funds each year for the scholarship accounts. Since the program began in 2017, NYC Kids RISE, community partners, local businesses, neighbors, and others have fundraised and deposited over $2.4 million dollars for the future college and career training costs of participating students. Visit http://nyckidsrise.org to learn more about the Save for College Program.

See the details in: English, Arabic, Bangla-Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

DOE UPDATE: PA/PTA and Presidents’ Council Reminders

Transfer Of Records

At the end of their term, outgoing executive board members must ensure that all records are transferred to the newly elected executive board. The transfer must take place in the presence of the principal, as soon as practicable following the election.

Outgoing executive board members must not retain copies of any PA/PTA records that contain PA/PTA members’ contact information (e.g., email lists), or information that can be used to access the PA/PTA’s accounts (e.g., usernames and passwords, account numbers).

We encourage PA/PTAs to contact their Presidents’ Councils, Family Leadership Coordinators or FACE Liaison if you have any questions or need support.

Parent Association (PA)/Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Elections and Annual Financial Report

In accordance with Chancellor’s Regulation A-660, your Parent Association (PA)/Parent Teacher Association (PTA) should submit election results to the school by June 30, 2021; if your school did not hold elections by the last day of school, you should do so as soon as possible in the Fall.

SLT Parent Member Elections: Following the PA/PTA election, schools should also have conducted School Leadership Team (SLT) parent-member elections to fill any vacancies on the SLT, in accordance with Chancellor’s Regulation A-655 and your SLT bylaws.

Signed Election Certification Form: The signed election certification form must be retained by the PA/PTA and a copy should be filed or shared with the principal and the appropriate superintendent. The principal, parent coordinator, or school web master of the school must update the School Parent Leader Contact Information System (SPLCI).

Annual Financial Report (AFR): The Annual PA/PTA Financial Report should be prepared by the PA/PTA and submitted to the principal including the PA/PTA budget beginning balance, income, expenses, and ending balance by June 30, 2021.

Title I Unused Funds for 2020/2021 School Year

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the closing of schools, and remote learning, the DOE is expecting a decrease in expenditures originally reserved for supplemental activities and professional development. As a result, a one-time allocation of unused Title I funds was approved for rollover into the next Fiscal Year for all Title I public schools. All unused Title1 funds from the 2020-2021 school year will be rolled over to the new 2021-2022 school year Title1 allocation.

For more information and resources on PA/PTA, see the PA/PTA Resource Folder and SLT Support Site. For all other questions, you can contact your Presidents’ Councils, DPAC Chairs, Family Leadership Coordinators or FACE Liaison if you have any questions or need support. You can also email FACE@schools.nyc.gov.

UPDATE: The Child Tax Credit

Starting July 15th, the IRS will send advance payments of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Depending on the age of your child, you could receive up to $300 a month per child until the end of 2021 and up to $1800 per child when you file in 2022.

You could be eligible if you have a child who meets the following criteria:

Will be under the age of 18 by the end of 2021
Has lived with you for over half the year
Has a Social Security Number (Only the child needs a social security number, the parent or caregiver does not.)

Use the IRS’ Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant to answer a series of questions to quickly determine your eligibility for the advance payments.

Note: Most families will automatically receive advance payments. There is no additional action needed to sign up for the advance payments if you’ve already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal tax return or used the IRS Non-filers tool in 2020 to sign up for Economic Impact Payments (commonly known as stimulus payments). If you have not taken these steps, you will need to sign up for Advance Payments to receive them.

How to sign up for Advance Payments:

Option 1: File for free with NYC Free Tax Prep. An IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer with NYC Free Tax Prep can help you file a federal tax return or help you use the IRS Child Tax Credit Non-Filer Tool in person or online. Services are available year-round.

Filing your taxes will ensure your family receives all the valuable tax credits you are eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). You can also claim any amount owed from the first and second federal stimulus payments and claim a third stimulus payment.

For more information or to book an appointment visit: nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for “tax preparation”.

Option 2: Sign up on your own via the Child Tax Credit Non-Filer Sign-up Tool (available only to those without a filing requirement). Use the Non-Filer Tool to sign up for the advance payments. You can also claim any amount owed from the first and second federal stimulus payments and to claim a third stimulus payment.

To learn more about the advance payments or to access the Non-Filer Sign-up tool visit: IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021.

Getting your payments:

The fastest way to get the CTC advance payments is by direct deposit to a bank account. Families can visit NYC Financial Empowerment Centers for free help setting up a bank account. To set up an appointment, visit nyc.gov/talkmoney or call 311 and ask for “financial counseling”.

The CTC advance payments, whether you decide to receive them or not, will not impact your eligibility for other federally-funded benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Tax credits do not count as earned income and will not impact your immigration status or application.

Individuals who are currently incarcerated or experiencing homelessness are eligible for the advance payments as long as their family meets the eligibility requirements. A permanent address is not required to receive a payments. Individuals can have their CTC advance payments mailed to the address of a friend, relative, or trusted service provider, such as a shelter, drop-in day center or transitional housing program. For families unable to choose direct deposit, a check or debit card for the credit can be mailed to this address.

UPDATE: The Gift of Chess

The Gift of Chess partners with NYC DOE elementary schools, providing all students at the partnering schools with access to free chess technology, a free physical chess set, and inclusion into a vibrant inter-school chess community. Each summer, the top 10% of engaged students at each school earn access to an in-person summer chess training camp. See ABC News feature here, learn more here. If your school is interested in partnering with The Gift of Chess, please see the requirements below.

Requirements:

K-5 Elementary School
School administrator support to help The Gift of Chess create unique usernames and passwords for each student
Host a virtual assembly to demonstrate the chess technology to all students
A budget of $15 per student. This will provide every student with their own physical chess set and chess technology. This budget can be through the DOE or PTA.

If interested, please speak with your school principal and have your principal complete this interest survey: https://forms.office.com/r/DTv7JkgSwy

UPDATE: Metropolitan Opera’s Virtual Summer Camp

Metropolitan Opera’s Virtual Summer Camp – July 5 through July 30

Back by popular demand, The Metropolitan Opera’s virtual Global Summer Camp returns this July 5–30! Open to kids ages eight and up, the free, four-week adventure will explore a quartet of kid-friendly Met productions with songs, dance, stories, and crafts—plus interviews with the operas’ stars and some of the artists who helped bring them to the stage—all livestreamed for free.

Here’s the link to register:

https://www.jotform.com/metoperaeducation/SummerCamp2021

EVENT: YAI Workshops

YAI offers free workshops every month. These workshops are open to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, caregivers, and professionals. Visit the workshop pages to register and learn more.

Wednesday July 7, 202110:00 am – 12:00 pm	Navigating the System
Friday July 9, 202110:00 am – 12:00 pm	Access-A-Ride Services in New York City
August 4, 202112:00 pm – 1:00 pm	Navigating the System
August 5, 202110:00 am – 12:00 pm	Self-Direction 101
August 11, 202110:00 am – 12:00 pm	Navigating the System

Events and Trainings for DOE Staff (PCs, FLCs, FSCs and FACE)

#NYCSchoolsTech Summit 2021

The ninth annual #NYCSchoolsTech Summit will be held virtually from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 28. The virtual summit allows attendees to join from any location, hear inspiring speakers, learn about the latest tech trends, and engage in meaningful networking opportunities. All DOE staff are invited to this year’s summit to learn about new education technologies, attend workshops, connect with industry leaders, and meet with vendors on the virtual exhibition floor. The agenda contains activities and learning opportunities that can help school, district, and Central staff understand the technology landscape. Additionally, eligible school-based staff can earn up to 4.5 hours of CTLE credit.

Please register and share this information with your staff. You and your staff are encouraged to attend to help integrate technology into classrooms, in preparation for in-person learning in the fall.

For questions, email tech@schools.nyc.gov.

Let’s Talk NYC: To Support High School Student Mental Health

In partnership with the Office of School Health, School Mental Health Program, The Jed Foundation, and Ogilvy Health, the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health has launched Let’s Talk NYC: To Support Student Mental Health. Read the full press release here and use this flyer to promote the training.

Let’s Talk NYC is a self-guided online training that prepares all high school staff, irrespective of role, to become mental health allies. The training can be accessed here.

After completing the Let’s Talk NYC training, staff will receive digital and physical badges that will help students identify themselves as adults who are ready to listen. In the fall, all high schools will receive posters to hang in their school building to help reinforce the messages of Let’s Talk NYC by addressing stigma, encouraging students to share how they are feeling with school staff, and promoting help-seeking behavior.

To learn more about the campaign and to access additional toolkits and mental health resources, please visit the campaign microsite: Letstalknyc.org. For questions, please contact mh@schools.nyc.gov.

Parent Leaders and School Staff

Please take a few minutes to fill out the Youth Mental Health Workshop Survey .

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The novel coronavirus has impacted our youth in multiple ways. Beyond becoming infected by the virus, the pandemic has significantly affected many young people’s social, emotional, and mental well-being. Social distancing and the interruption of typical school routines can be especially challenging for youth as they have different developmental needs than adults. To best address these complex needs, we would like to hear from you! As parent advocates for students within the Department of Education system, your responses will help us better understand areas of interest among parents and caregivers.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchSsC-Z1RABDsc2zjEgjuQl4VjiMZ2bMt0WbdwKLrfUotpSQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

SPLCI Update for Parent Coordinators

Reporting PA/PTA Election Results and Interim/Annual Finances in SPLCI

We are pleased to announce that FACE in collaboration with DIIT, has made enhancements to the SPLCI Reporting system. Now you can more easily manage users and assign roles for PTA Admin, Principal, Parent Coordinator, and Assistant Principal. Also, there are now additional filters added for borough and district level information such as Financial, SLT, Election, Officer and Title 1. This data is also now available in smaller usable chunks and faster to retrieve.

We are also transitioning from having 2 long and separate URLs accessible to Administrators and school level users via DOE network computer or VPN access only to a short URL that will be easy to remember. This data will now be available 24/7 on the internet and on any device for easy access.

As a reminder, PA/PTA election results, and financial reports, must be entered into the School Parent Leader Contact Information database (SPLCI). Log in using your DOE login credentials using this URL www.nycenet.edu/pta

Parent Coordinator Team Channel

Check out and sign up for the Parent Coordinator Microsoft Team Channel for the latest and most up to date information about FACE’s professional development opportunities for staff.