By Sabrina DuQuesnayIn his ten months on the job as schools chancellor, David Banks has not been shy about naming the challenges he faces. Steep enrollment declines. Pandemic recovery. Budget cuts. He’s offered harsh critiques of the NYC school system and the bureaucracy that runs it.On Tuesday, Nov. 1 he sat down with a roundtable of student journalists, including a few Miseducation reporters, to answer questions on topics ranging from school funding to censorship of student newspapers. Hear what he had to say in the first episode of P.S. Weekly.(Chancellor Banks ran out of time for all of the questions but promised to follow up with written responses to the ones he missed. We’ll post those questions and answers here when we receive them.)—Want exclusive content from Miseducation? Join us on Patreon.To join the conversation, send us a message and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.Never miss an episode! Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher

P.S. 1: Students Interview Chancellor Banks

New York City is home to the nation’s most segregated school system, a fact that surprises those who think of the Big Apple as a progressive beacon. Deep inequities exist at every level of the NYC school system. We think more people should know about them and push to fix them.
That's why, each semester, we bring together a team of high school interns from across the school system to tell important stories from the perspective of the real experts: students.
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In P.S. Weekly’s food episode, fourth graders visit NYC schools’ test kitchen, high schoolers rate grilled cheese sandwiches, and students dish on having microwave access.

News Bulletin — Chalkbeat reporter Julian Shen-Berro breaks down top education stories from the past week. (2 min)

Segment A — Student reporter Ava Stryker-Robbins and Chalkbeat reporter Alex Zimmerman visit the NYC Public Schools' test kitchen to learn about the process food items go through before they end up in school cafeterias. Spoiler alert: they have to win the approval of some tough critics. (12 min)

Segment B — Student reporter Jose Santana makes a surprising discovery when he visits the Bronx Latin school cafeteria on a recent Plant-Powered Friday. (6 min)

Segment C — Student reporter Santana Roach speaks with his principal and students at his school, Frederick Douglass Academy II, about access to microwaves.  (7 min) Want to get in touch? Email us at PSweekly@chalkbeat.org. To stay up to date on New York City schools coverage throughout the week, sign up for Chalkbeat New York's daily newsletter at ckbe.at/subscribe-ny. Learn more about The Bell's student programs and podcasts at bellvoices.org.

P.S. Weekly: Cafeteria Chronicles with the Critics Who Matter

In this special episode, student reporters Shoaa Khan and Jose Santana speak to Chancellor David Banks about a range of important issues that affect students. Hear what the leader of the NYC public school system had to say about a new "Hidden Voices" history curriculum, school start times, the persistence of school segregation, cell phone policies, and more.Want to get in touch? Email us at PSweekly@chalkbeat.org.To stay up to date on New York City schools coverage throughout the week, sign up for Chalkbeat New York's daily newsletter at ckbe.at/subscribe-ny.Learn more about The Bell's student programs and podcasts at bellvoices.org.

P.S. Weekly: An Exclusive Interview with Chancellor David Banks

In the first segment, student producer Christian Rojas Linares explores a new apprenticeship program through the eyes of Heidy Torres, a high school junior who works 16 hours a week for Bloomberg, the finance giant and media company.

The second segment, produced by Marcellino Melika and Tanvir Kaur, focuses on a student who has devoted enormous energy to getting into a top college — submitting 23 applications requiring 50 supplemental essays.Want to get in touch? Email us at PSweekly@chalkbeat.org.To stay up to date on New York City schools coverage throughout the week, sign up for Chalkbeat New York's daily newsletter at ckbe.at/subscribe-ny.Learn more about The Bell's student programs and podcasts at bellvoices.org.

P.S. Weekly: A High Schooler Working at Bloomberg — Plus “Shotgunning” College Applications

More than 200,000 New York City students have a disability classification that entitles them to specific learning accommodations — but do they always get them? Students share their experiences.RSVP for "Inside P.S. Weekly" Zoom event on April 17: https://ckbe.at/psweeklyWant to get in touch? Email us at PSweekly@chalkbeat.org.To stay up to date on New York City schools coverage throughout the week, sign up for Chalkbeat New York's daily newsletter at ckbe.at/subscribe-ny.Learn more about The Bell's student programs and podcasts at bellvoices.org.

P.S. Weekly: Students Speak Out About Special Education

The national wave of book bans has been coming ashore in surprising ways in New York City.
News Bulletin – Chalkbeat reporter Alex Zimmerman breaks down top education stories from the past week. (1 min)
Segment A  – Student reporter Salma Baksh interviews her former librarian Lindsay Klemas, who received online backlash for promoting an LGBTQ+ book during Pride month. (8 min)
Segment B – Shoaa Khan and Tanvir Kaur take us to an English class at the Academy of American Studies, where students read banned books — exclusively. (6 min)RSVP for "Inside P.S. Weekly" Zoom event on April 17: https://ckbe.at/psweeklyWant to get in touch? Email us at PSweekly@chalkbeat.org.To stay up to date on New York City schools coverage throughout the week, sign up for Chalkbeat New York's daily newsletter at ckbe.at/subscribe-ny.Learn more about The Bell's student programs and podcasts at bellvoices.org.

P.S. 1: Students Interview Chancellor Banks

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