Education

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. 

iPads are giving a voice to children who cannot speak.  WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says students at the Cantalician Center are learning to communicate in a new way in the classroom and at home.

Niagara University is making a bold move to no longer require the SAT and ACT for admission by the fall of 2018.  WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says University leaders held a news conference to announce the new 'test-optional' policy.

The Council's Women Initiative, supporting women's leadership, met at the Marriott Harbor Center in downtown Buffalo this week. Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul was one of the speakers. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says Hochul addressed the issue of a high percentage of women in education, but a low percentage seeking leadership roles.

The Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization (BPTO) is trying to put pressure on the State Education Commissioner to remove city school board member Carl Paladino. WBFO’s senior reporter Eileen Buckley says BPTO co-chair Larry Scott made a plea at a rally Sunday in Buffalo to denounce the violent racism that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia.  

Buffalo State College welcomed long-time Civil Rights leader Andrew Young Jr. to their campus Thursday evening.  Young is a former U.S. Congressman and United Nations ambassador. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley had a chance to meet with Young at The Mansion on Delaware in Buffalo to discuss his views on racism, racial equity and poverty.  

The University at Buffalo has revised its bus schedule for the upcoming fall semester. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says it could curtail the so called "drunk bus" situation in the city's University district. 

Two teams from Mount St. Mary Academy High School in Kenmore will be headed to Ukraine Wednesday.  WBFO's senior reporter says the students are finalists who will be competing in Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship known as SAGE.

As a brand new school year approaches  the West Seneca Central School District has announced a new after-school program. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says the district is teaming with a former Buffalo Bill to present a sports-based program that includes life-skills and academics. 

A Canisius High School student reflected on his time spent at the all-boys, Jesuit school as part of our Student Journals project. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says he's now ready to head to college. 

As part of our recent Student Journals project we spoke with a couple of students from Cheektowaga Central High School. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says they described bullying. 

WBFO produced a special radio program called The Education Experience. WBFO spearheaded unique initiatives to speak with students. Cafeteria Chats took us directly into schools across the region and our Student Journals provided area students with a chance to conduct their own interviews.