NYC's First Day Of School Is Almost Here: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — Back-to-school season could be a little bit different this year, New York City students and parents.

A disruptive potential bus strike and an influx of thousands of asylum seeker children could greet New Yorkers after the public schools' first day of classes Thursday.

School officials promise that they'll be ready, if both come to pass.

Here's what New York City parents and students should know as the 2023-2024 school year begins.

What's happening with this bus strike?

A potential school bus driver strike is on hold when classes begin Thursday and Friday, but still could go forward in future weeks, said Chancellor David Banks Wednesday.

Talks are going forward between the drivers' Amalgamated Transit Union and bus companies, which the chancellor said is an encouraging sign.

But Banks noted the negotiations don't directly involve school officials. He said the strike, if it unfolds, could affect 86,000 students.

"Rest assured, we're not sitting idly," he said.

Students could see some bus problems Thursday and Friday, despite the strike being on hold, officials said.

Some drivers could be placed on unfamiliar bus routes, while some companies may not be able to provide pick up and drop off times in advance, officials said.

Families can call 718-392-8855 if they experience disruptions, Banks said in a statement.

And if the strike happens, city school officials have crafted a host of transportation contingency plans for students who could go without a ride.

Parents can find out more about the plan here, including read a list of potential affected bus companies, but here are some major points.

Schools will remain open if there's a strike, officials said.

Students affected by the strike will receive Emergency MetroCards that give them and their families four free trips daily on MTA buses and subways from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., officials said.

Certain groups of students such as those with disabilities, in temporary housing or foster care and those with an approved transportation exception are also eligible for pre-paid rideshare and transportation reimbursement for use of taxis and personal vehicles, officials said.

About 32,000 students will quality for those pre-paid rides and reimbursement, officials said.

"Rideshare is free for eligible families and does not require the family to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement," the plan's page states. "For this reason, we recommend that eligible families consider using rideshare instead of seeking transportation reimbursement."

How will I know if there's a strike?

Parents and families will receive automated calls, emails and texts if there's a strike.

To make sure they receive notifications, families should check that their contact information is up-to-date with your school and on their NYC Schools Account (NYCSA).

What's this about migrant students?

Roughly 21,000 children in temporary housing are enrolled to begin classes this week, Banks said.

The influx of students actually offsets a years-long recent dip in enrollment, he said. And officials expect they'll be able to strategically put those children in schools where there is space, so overcrowding won't be an issue, he said.

"We're trying to move them a little further out from where they were, but ... not so individual schools are taking on more than their fair share," Banks said.

Asylum seeker students will be met by an army of bilingual teachers and educators trained in English as a new language instruction, the chancellor said.

What about this door lock policy?

Elementary schools — 744 of them — will start locking their doors Thursday, education officials have said.

The new security policy means visitors will need to press a buzzer, present themselves to a camera monitored by a safety agent, show identification and explain the reason of their visit before being allowed to enter.

All elementary schools citywide will adopt the policy by spring 2024, with middle and high schools to follow, Banks said.

Any big changes to the calendar?

The response to that question might just be: which one?

The city's Department of Education recently released calendars for the next three school years.

The move means parents won't have to deal with the frustration of waiting for calendars as they try to craft vacation plans, at least for a few years.

All the calendars can be found here.

As far as this school year, students will receive four more vacation days, which are:

• Monday, April 1 — The day after Easter Sunday, which extends the holiday time off from March 29 to April 1.
• Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30 — Time off for the last two days of Passover, which extends spring break from April 22 to April 30.
• Monday, June 17 — Time off for Eid al-Adha.

Diwali will be celebrated as a holiday day off starting in the 2024-2025 school year. This year, it falls on a Sunday.

What else?

A "Back-To-School Checklist" offered by the Department of Education provides information on staying connected with schools, the 2023-2024 calendar, information on vaccinations and more.