Education

Daniel Robertson and Jeremy Besch share similar philosophies on educating today’s youth despite coming from vastly different backgrounds.

“I grew up with an absent father,” said Robertson, Program Manager for Say Yes Buffalo’s Boys and Young Men of Color initiative. “I pretty much grew up around individuals that looked like me. I had friends who were in the streets and sold drugs and went to jail. I had friends who I grew up with who are no longer here now because of gun violence.”

Buffalo's first "Excellence in Education" awards were handed out Sunday evening as an event that was intended to be a public bash turned into a virtual celebration.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his tenth State of the State address Wednesday in Albany. WBFO reporters took in-depth look at what the governor and others are saying about some key challenges the state faces at the start of a new decade.

Nearly three dozen young people, each representing a half dozen Boys and Girls Clubs within the City of Buffalo, displayed the fruits of their summertime efforts Friday in a STEAM competition hosted by Rich Products.

The most critical years of a child’s development occur between ages zero and five. That is the period where children’s social and emotional growth can indicate future success. However, there are zip codes in the City of Buffalo where that development has shown to be lacking.

New York is the first state to make mental health a mandated part of its curriculum. Implementing the initiative is just one of the issues facing school boards this year, says Tim Kremer, executive director of the New York State School Boards Association. Another priority is security. Kremer says many districts are hiring school resource officers to address the situation.

The summer months are still busy times for school districts. This week in our Press Pass conversation WBFO’s Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News Education reporter Jay Rey look at five items the Buffalo Public School District is working on for the next school year. 

Students from Holland High School, Nardin Academy and Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart journey to Washington Friday to take part in this year's National Rocketry Challenge, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association.

And not only are area schools sending a record number of competitors this year, but this year all  the participants from the Buffalo-area are young women.

Not everyone thinks Buffalo is great and getting better. That was apparent at the Central Library Thursday night for the first "State of Our City" meeting.

Nearly three dozen teachers across Erie and Niagara counties have new Buffalo-made computers in their classrooms today, a gift from Bak USA. The downtown manufacturer donated 500 computers to the Teacher's Desk and helped give them out Wednesday.

Urban school children are facing a number of barriers to learning.  A new nation-wide study says one of those barriers is the high rate of students arriving at school hungry.  But as WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley tells us, the Buffalo Public School District is serving thousands of meals to city kids.  

Some Buffalo Public school students had a chance to welcome a Buffalo Bill player into their classroom. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says the Classroom Champions program provides mentoring from athletes for students.

The new leader of Erie Community College is calling for change. WBFO's Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley says Dan Hocoy is the 11th president at at ECC. 

Niagara University is teaming with the Lewiston-Porter Central School District to assist international students. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley explains how the program works from high school to college. 

Some Buffalo high school students immersed themselves in a special film making project over the summer. They participated in the Buffalo Youth Media Institute. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says they premiered their short film The Civic Heart at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology.  

Some pockets of Buffalo are buzzing thanks to urban redevelopment of an unexpected kind. The recently implemented Green Code has officially legalized what used to be an underground practice in the city of Buffalo: urban beekeeping. Residents have found an array of uses for it, from gardening and education to revitalization of neglected urban landmarks.

At least two south Buffalo residents say they are seeking appointment to Carl Paladino's city school board seat. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says both are former Park District candidates.    

There are some slight gains for public school students on this year's New York State Assessments. WBFO's Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley says that includes small gains for Buffalo Public School students in English and Math.