Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 9

From a @chalkbeat.org Student Voices Fellow: Online, at school, on the street: Sexual harassment changes how I move through the world www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Online, at school, on the street: Sexual harassment changes how I move through the world

By the time I was 11, toxic comments and content had begun to feel routine.

www.chalkbeat.org

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 1

Student sit-ins, teacher departures: What’s happening at Columbia Secondary School? www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Teachers are leaving, students are protesting: The upheaval at Columbia Secondary School

A wave of teacher departures and curriculum shifts under Columbia Secondary School’s new principal has led to growing discontent erupting this month with student-led protests.

www.chalkbeat.org

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jun 26

Graduation brings hope, fear at a Bronx school touched by immigration politics. @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social's dispatch from ELLIS Prep, Dylan's school: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

How national immigration politics hung over the graduation ceremony of one Bronx high school.

While ELLIS Prep’s principal celebrated the accomplishments of graduates, she also paused to acknowledge the ongoing ICE detention of ELLIS student Dylan Lopez Contreras.

www.chalkbeat.org

1

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · Jun 25

Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s school plans include advocating for shared governance, addressing issues like homelessness, and examining the specialized high school admissions test.

Zohran Mamdani on education: His vision for NYC schools

Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s school plans include advocating for shared governance, addressing issues like homelessness, and examining the specialized high school admissions test.

bit.ly

1 5 8

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jun 24

ICYMI: An inside look at a high school student's experience in NYC's highly touted apprenticeship program. Nearly 400 student apprentices across NYC split their days between school + job sites. A must-read from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

How one NYC student juggles schoolwork and an intensive cybersecurity apprenticeship

Addison Wang was initially skeptical of spending so many of his high school days on an apprenticeship. Here’s what changed his mind.

www.chalkbeat.org

2 1

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · Jun 20

Addison Wang was initially skeptical of spending so many of his high school days on an apprenticeship. Here’s what changed his mind.

How one NYC student juggles schoolwork and an intensive cybersecurity apprenticeship

Addison Wang was initially skeptical of spending so many of his high school days on an apprenticeship. Here’s what changed his mind.

bit.ly

2

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Alex Zimmerman @alexzimmerman.bsky.social · Jun 13

New: NYC's teachers union is *not* endorsing in the Democratic mayoral primary due to deep divisions on issues from Israel to affordability

“There’s not even somewhat of a consensus on this race," UFT prez Michael Mulgrew told me. "It is split all over the place.”
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

‘It is split all over the place’: NYC teachers union declines to endorse in mayor’s race

“There's not even somewhat of a consensus on this race,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “It is split all over the place.”

www.chalkbeat.org

2 4

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jun 12

There's an air quality alert today in NYC. We're asking teachers: Is your school still using the air purifiers purchased during the pandemic? www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Is your NYC school using the air purifiers that were distributed during COVID?

NYC invested millions of dollars outfitting every public school classroom with air purifiers at the height of the pandemic. But they have uses beyond COVID. Is your school still using them?

www.chalkbeat.org

4

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · Jun 9

Should NYC’s mayor control the public schools? Here’s what the candidates say.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/06/09/mayoral-control-schools-2025-mayors-race/

Should NYC’s mayor control the public schools? We asked the candidates for the office.

Supporters say mayoral control of public schools ensures accountability. Detractors say it’s anti-democratic. What do NYC’s mayoral candidates think?

www.chalkbeat.org

1 2

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · Jun 6

Are you following @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social's excellent coverage about Dylan, the Bronx HS student detained by ICE? Check out this profile of Dylan's school, ELLIS Prep, which is doing so much to support Dylan and their other students. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NYC school rallies to bring back their student detained by ICE

‘They thought no one would miss him. That was a mistake.’ Now, this Bronx school community is rallying around a student detained by ICE.

www.chalkbeat.org

2

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Mike Elsen-Rooney @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social · Jun 6

If you've been following the story of Dylan, the Bronx HS student detained by ICE, I hope you'll read this follow-up. I followed his school, ELLIS Prep, as they navigated the aftermath — rallying around Dylan while managing the fears spreading to other students.

www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NYC school rallies to bring back their student detained by ICE

‘They thought no one would miss him. That was a mistake.’ Now, this Bronx school community is rallying around a student detained by ICE.

www.chalkbeat.org

1 9 13

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · Jun 4

I live in the Bronx and go to high school in Lower Manhattan. My commute is my refuge.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/06/04/why-i-love-my-nyc-subway-commute-to-high-school/

My commute to high school is my refuge

The subway is the one place where I’m just another person moving through the city.

www.chalkbeat.org

1 2

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · May 30

Lawyers for Bronx high school student detained by ICE file petition for immediate release
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/05/30/lawyers-petition-to-release-bronx-high-school-student-detained-by-ice/

Lawyers for Bronx student detained by ICE file petition for immediate release

In a new “habeas corpus” filing, the lawyers for Dylan, a Bronx high school student detained by ICE, claim immigration officials violated his due process rights.

www.chalkbeat.org

7 12

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · May 27

Dylan is a 20-year-old student who followed our legal process and is trying to get an education and provide for his family.

ICE took advantage of his court date to arrest him.

It's despicable.

A Bronx high schooler showed up for a routine immigration court date. ICE was waiting.

A NYC public school student’s arrest was part of a nationwide blitz of immigration authorities detaining migrants in courthouses in an effort to speed up deportations.

www.chalkbeat.org

12 50 140

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · May 27

A Bronx high schooler showed up for a routine immigration court date. ICE was waiting.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/05/27/bronx-high-school-student-detained-by-immigration-ice-agents/

A Bronx high schooler showed up for a routine immigration court date. ICE was waiting.

A NYC public school student’s arrest was part of a nationwide blitz of immigration authorities detaining migrants in courthouses in an effort to speed up deportations.

www.chalkbeat.org

23 76 130

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · May 27

First known example of a current New York City public school student detained by ICE during Trump’s second administration. The latest from @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social ⬇️

Mike Elsen-Rooney @michaelelsenroo.bsky.social · May 27

A Bronx high school student showed up at a routine immigration court date in Manhattan last week. ICE was waiting.

Please read this one. Immigration enforcement is an education story: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

A Bronx high schooler showed up for a routine immigration court date. ICE was waiting.

A NYC public school student’s arrest was part of a nationwide blitz of immigration authorities detaining migrants in courthouses in an effort to speed up deportations.

www.chalkbeat.org

2

Reposted by Amy Zimmer

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · May 21

See how many new teachers your NYC school is getting to reduce class sizes
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/05/21/new-teachers-class-size-reduction-school-list/

See how many new teachers your NYC school is getting to reduce class sizes

Chalkbeat created a searchable table showing how many new teachers were assigned to each of the 741 schools given new hiring funding by the city.

www.chalkbeat.org

3 3

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · May 22

Please listen to our latest P.S. Weekly episode + behold the power student journalism! These students are having an impact!

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · May 22

Beyond climate anxiety: One student finds hope in pushing for school composting
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/05/22/climate-anxiety-and-action-among-nyc-students/

Apathy and action: How students are (or aren't) fighting climate change

P.S. Weekly students reported on the state of climate activism. It led to an unexpected win.

www.chalkbeat.org

Amy Zimmer @amyzimmer.bsky.social · May 21

Under federal law, schools must consider a student’s disability and special education plan during the suspension process. NYC public schools have been breaking the rules for years.

A must-read from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...