Authors
Melissa Manno

Melissa Manno is a reporter at New York Focus, covering the state’s school system and education politics. She was previously an education reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, where she reported on discipline, special education, school funding and other issues impacting students in South Texas. Melissa also covered business at the Albany Times Union as a Hearst fellow and is an alumna of Penn State University.

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Rockland County School District Sues State for Blocking Its Superintendent Pick

The East Ramapo school board has been overseen by state monitors for years after it slashed millions in public school funds to bankroll private religious education.

April 30, 2026
Senate Dems’ Leader Defends Judiciary Chair, Despite Long Record of Botched Cases

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says she sees “no reason” to remove Senator Luis Sepúlveda as judiciary chair.

April 16, 2026
Child Care Voucher Enrollment Is Closed in 34 New York Counties and NYC

That number is up from 21 last July. New York City’s waitlist alone has surged to over 17,000 — a tenfold increase in less than a year.

March 31, 2026
Class Size Plan at Center of Mamdani’s Bid to Extend Mayoral Control

The administration will soon send legislators a plan to meet a mandate capping class sizes, said NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.

March 25, 2026
Putting a Price Tag on ‘Universal’ Pre-K

The state’s universal pre-K funding model is notoriously complex. How does it actually work, and can the governor’s plan fix it?

March 20, 2026
Albany Unites on Universal Child Care, Splits Over Education Funding

The Senate and Assembly budget proposals included most of the governor’s ambitious child care plans — but lawmakers have other ideas for Foundation Aid.

March 11, 2026
Thousands of 4-Year-Olds Couldn’t Apply to Universal Pre-K Last School Year

Dozens of school districts have opted out of the state’s program. Will the governor’s proposed funding boost be enough to help school districts close the gaps?

March 9, 2026
Five Questions for New York’s Social Service Agencies

Will this week’s budget hearing provide insight into the state’s plan to salvage its safety net?

February 4, 2026
Five Questions for New York’s Education Leaders

The state’s top education officials head to the hot seat Thursday for a lengthy budget hearing. Here are some questions we’d put on the table.

January 28, 2026
Child Care Promises Leave Funding Questions Open: State of the State 2026

Hochul has proposed a multibillion-dollar plan that she says would ultimately deliver free child care to every New York family — without tapping additional revenue sources.

January 14, 2026