City education leaders face council questions on segregation, special education and efforts to expand diverse, inclusive schools

Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos told a joint hearing of the New York City Council’s education and civil and human rights committees that New York City public schools are pursuing numerous programs to expand diverse and inclusive options but acknowledged the system has more work to do on segregation and outcomes.

“Diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” Aviles Ramos said in her opening testimony, adding that the district serves about 912,000 students and that the system’s demographic mix “captures a richly diverse school system.” She laid out a mix of district‑level initiatives — diversity and admissions programs, new accelerated high schools and expanded specialized‑program seats — while urging continued community partnership.

Why this matters: Council members and witnesses pressed the Department of Education (DOE) on gaps between policy goals and results: large racial and income disparities in school composition and academic outcomes, limited implementation of district diversity plans required by Local Law 225 (2019), and unequal access to after‑school seats and services for students with disabilities. Council leaders emphasized the need for measurable progress, not only plans.

Most important facts

- DOE reported there were roughly 912,000 students in 2023–24; the department’s 2023–24 breakdown cited in testimony was 42.2% Latine, 19.5% Black, 18.7% Asian and 16.2% White; 73.5% of students were economically disadvantaged, 21.6% had IEPs and 16.3% were English language learners. (Melissa Aviles Ramos, testimony)

- DOE officials said 69 middle schools had returned to using academic screens as of this year; the department also described a range of local diversity initiatives and school mergers that it says…