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District 28 superintendent highlights attendance, immigrant-family supports and PS 99 grade change
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Blake told the District 28 CEC the district is tracking literacy, chronic absenteeism and parent engagement, detailed outreach to newcomer families and said Panel for Educational Policy approved a truncation that changes PS 99 from K–6 to K–5 for 2025–26.
Superintendent Dr. Blake gave the Community Education Council for New York City Geographic District #28 an update on district priorities — attendance, literacy, chronic absenteeism and parent engagement — and highlighted several recent items including immigrant-family outreach and a Panel for Educational Policy decision affecting PS 99.
What he told the council
Dr. Blake said the district is monitoring reductions in attendance at some schools and noted specific instances where schools reported absences of up to 100 students that could affect overall attendance rates. “So we're constantly looking on monitoring the overall attendance,” he said. He also listed district efforts to support newcomer and immigrant families, including Know-Your-Rights materials and presentations by attendance coordinators and parent coordinators across school forums.
PEP action on PS 99
Dr. Blake reported that the Panel for Educational Policy approved a truncation altering PS 99 from K–6 to K–5 beginning with the 2025–26 school year; he said the change “was approved by the PEP, the panel for educational policy on January 22.” The superintendent attributed the decision to the district’s recommendations and thanked stakeholders and parents for participating in the process.
Other highlights
- Read-aloud event: The superintendent said four District 28 schools were selected by DOE central to host central-office readers for World Read Aloud Day; he described the visit as “a very lovely experience.”
- Queens borough funding: Dr. Blake noted $25 million allocated by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards to projects across Queens schools and thanked his staff and borough leaders for advocacy that will benefit District 28 schools.
Nut graf: The update grouped everyday instructional priorities (literacy, attendance, absenteeism) with district outreach to immigrant families and a concrete PEP decision adjusting grade configuration at PS 99, all items the CEC said it will monitor.
Ending: Council members thanked the superintendent and asked for continued, clear messaging to schools and families about attendance and immigrant-family supports.
