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Kamar Samuels, New York City's Schools Chancellor, skipped delivering the annual "State of Our Schools" speech this September, a tradition started in 2023 by former chancellor David Banks. This decision has angered parents and advocates who feel that the administration lacks a clear vision for addressing the city’s educational challenges. Under Samuels' leadership, New York City schools have faced issues such as a 6% drop in English Language Arts proficiency rates among students in grades 3-8 and nearly 300,000 students being chronically absent. Speculation about his absence from the speech includes concerns over ongoing investigations into procurement violations and a loss of confidence in his leadership abilities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kamar Samuels, the embattled Chancellor of New York City Schools, skipped delivering the traditional "State of Our Schools" speech this year, marking the first time since its inception in 2023 that a chancellor has failed to address it. The speech, initiated by former Chancellor David Banks during Mayor Eric Adams' tenure, typically outlines educational visions and priorities at the start of each school year in September. Parents and advocates have criticized the administration for lacking a clear education policy vision, with insiders speculating that City Hall might be hesitant to let Samuels speak due to his recent scandals. The decision not to hold the speech has raised concerns among parents who feel that the administration is failing to provide a coherent plan for addressing the city's troubled school system.
Written for “NYC Schools Crisis” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.55, but all 4 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 71303: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-11
Embattled New York City Schools boss Kamar Samuels broke with tradition and became the first chancellor to fail to deliver a “State of Our Schools” speech since it was established.
asserted
it → embattle → speech
The speech was started by former Schools Chancellor David Banks during Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in 2023, and was used to outline visions and priorities for the city’s schools as the new school year got underway.
asserted
year → start → schools
It’s always been held in September.
asserted
It → hold → September
The DOE confirmed that no “State of Our Schools” speech is currently scheduled.
asserted
speech → confirm → ?
Ditching the yearly tradition has sparked ire in parents who already feel the administration is failing to produce a coherent vision on the troubled school system.
asserted
administration → ditch → system
“Parents and advocates are all grumbling; they have no clue what education policy Kamar or the mayor has,” a well-placed DOE insider said.
asserted
insider → grumble → policy
DOE insiders are buzzing about the sudden break from tradition, and speculating that City Hall may be muzzling the scandal-scarred schools chief.
“Does City Hall not have confidence in Kamar to deliver a high-stakes speech?” the DOE insider speculated.
uncertain
insider → buzz → speech
Mayor Mamdani’s administration has been criticized for not having a clear education policy vision.
asserted
administration → criticize → vision
His campaign education plan was light on details, and insiders say that problem has only gotten worse since he took office.
asserted
he → say → office
“Mayor Mamdani doesn’t have the desire to have an education agenda, the selection of Samuels was part of that, just someone to maintain the status quo,” another DOE source said.
asserted
source → have → quo
With no clearly articulated education agenda or vision, the problems plaguing city schools have been intensified under Samuels’ reign.
asserted
problems → articulate → reign
City students in grades 3-8 saw a 6% drop in their statewide English Language Arts proficiency rate from the previous year, with about half of students proficient in reading, according to state test data.
uncertain
half → see → data
One third of students, or nearly 300,000 students, are chronically absent from city schools, representing no change from the 2024-2025 school year, according to the DOE.
uncertain
third → represent → DOE
Others speculated that Samuels was staying mum amid an ongoing investigation against him over procurement violations first exposed by The Post.
asserted
Samuels → speculate → Post
Samuels signed a $180,000 no-bid contract with a non-DOE-approved vendor in 2023 and allegedly conspired to split payments between his two companies while he was superintendent of District 3, according to a report issued by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools.
“I’m not surprised given his speech-making capabilities; it’s clear to everyone that he does not inspire confidence in his leadership or his ability to serve the need of parents and students,” the other DOE source said.
uncertain
source → sign → parents
Neither Mamdani nor Samuels returned requests for comment.
asserted
Mamdani → return → comment
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