Schools Chancellor Cancelled Annual Address
New York City schools chancellor Kamar Samuels has broken the tradition of delivering the annual State of Our Schools speech.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you trust your local school leadership to provide a clear vision for education policy?
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels has skipped the annual State of Our Schools speech that has been a tradition since 2023. The Department of Education has confirmed that no such address is scheduled for the current year.
Why it matters
The cancellation comes amid mounting scrutiny of the chancellor's leadership and public concern over stagnant academic performance metrics.
Official data reveals a 6% decline in student ELA proficiency for grades 3-8, with nearly 300,000 students facing chronic absenteeism. Records also show a $180,000 no-bid contract signed by Chancellor Samuels in 2023 with a non-approved vendor.
The players
Kamar Samuels
He serves as the Schools Chancellor for the New York City Department of Education.
The details
Chancellor Samuels faces allegations of conspiring to split contract payments between two firms during his tenure as superintendent of District 3. Currently, only about 50% of students within the city's system have reached proficiency in reading.
Timeline
The speech tradition was established in 2023.
Chancellor Samuels signed a $180,000 no-bid contract in 2023.
The speech was traditionally held every September.
The 2024-2025 school year has seen consistent chronic absenteeism.
No speech is scheduled for October 2026.
Culture Shift
This move represents a departure from recent efforts to increase administrative transparency in the New York City public school accountability regulations. It signals a shift in how city leadership communicates academic challenges to parents and the public.
The absence of the speech means parents will not receive the expected annual update on citywide literacy strategies or attendance initiatives. Families may need to rely on alternative department reporting to track school progress.
The takeaway
The lack of an annual address limits the public's ability to hold the district accountable for stagnant reading scores. Residents should monitor future department meetings for opportunities to voice concerns regarding school management and contracts.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest updates in New York City Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
Live Poll
Do you trust your local school leadership to provide a clear vision for education policy?
