Question: Brooklyn Middle School Parents Guide: Who Do I Contact in the School System?
It's an exciting time, middle school—but it's sometimes also fraught. Find out who to contact at the New York City Department of Education should you need information about free lunches, bus and subway passes, testing, sports programs, the Specialized High School Institute and more.
Answer:
10 Key Contacts for Brooklyn Middle School Parents at the NYC Department of Education
Here are some useful websites and phone numbers for the parents of middle school students in Brooklyn public schools.- Parent information page on the DOE website This is an excellent, comprehensive site that includes everything from transportation to attendance to health issues to academics. If there's just one DOE contact you keep on your desk, this should be it!
- Parent Support telephone line: Call (718) 935-2009 for general questions about your zones and enrollment, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- ARIS. Keep track of your student online with the intractive ARIS . It's a new system, a computer-based work-in-progress that enables parents to log on and see what's happening with their children's academic progress. You'll need an ID and password to log on.
- Transportation issues regarding buses and Metro cards: Your son or daughter can ask at school. Or, check out this site from the DOE's Office of Pupil Transportation . If you need to call, their telephone number is (718) 392-8855, open Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Food: free school breakfasts and lunches, food and menus: Is your teenager suddenly a vegan? Allergic to nuts? There's great information about school food .
- Empowering boys: Girls tend to do better in school than boys. Check out the DOE's website, Empowering Boys: Closing the Achievement Gap, filled with facts on the problem and suggested ways to help boys do better in school.
- Academic support and standardized tests: Department of Academic Support and Performance Service Desk (212) 374-6646.
- Homework & Regents Study: Dial-a-Teacher, Regents and Homework Help. Your student doesn't have to fall behind. Find out about the multitude of homework support systems.
- Office of Special Education and English Language Learners: (212) 374-6072.
- Department of Education general number:(718) 935-2000, Brooklyn Executive directors of high school enrollment: 212) 374-6811, and City-wide High School Enrollment: (212) 374-6102.
