Whitney Toussaint

Proud public school parent in D30. All tweets are my own. Likes & Retweets do not equal endorsement.

[Chuck Park @chuckforqueens]

Good morning, Queens.

Last night wasn't the result we hoped for. Congratulations to representative Grace Meng on winning another term.

Eight months ago, I was angry. Watching ICE raids on Canal Street, attacking street vendors in the same position as my parents 40 years ago. Seeing many of our own leaders in the Democratic Party thanking ICE. Tired of a system bought out by billionaires and corporate PACs, that prioritizes war and genocide over healthcare and childcare for families.

It made me angry enough to run for Congress.

Over the months, we ran an uncompromising grassroots operation. Funded entirely by normal people, built on staff and volunteers from every corner of this beautiful borough. No endorsements from sitting politicians. No support from institutional power.

But we showed that there’s a fire and spice in Queens. That a no-name political outsider and a scrappy team running the streets could withstand a flood of money and crack a fissure in the base of a fortified, entrenched machine.

I remain a proud son of Queens, and I’m filled with gratitude.

Let's get to work,
Chuck Park

[Gothamist @Gothamist]

NYC teens say jobs and mental health, not policing, would curb violence

https://t.co/7GrhK1SrHs

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

As the school year comes to a close, I joined @DOEChancellor in congratulating @NYCSchools students and families on another incredible year. We know how hard you’ve worked to get here. Yes, that includes making it through a few Mayor-mandated late bedtimes. Have a great summer.

[Chalkbeat New York @ChalkbeatNY]

Can Success Academy transfer a charter to the CEO’s husband? A court may ultimately decide. https://t.co/2LpHXK4kSA

[Gothamist @Gothamist]

Parents rally to save nearly 250 NYC after-school programs facing cancellation

https://t.co/XOUaSQrcOc

[NY BATs @NYBATs]

@dany_egorov @alexanderrusso NOT EXACTLY: The policy’s definition of “low-income” includes families making $500K, so clearly it’s full of loopholes. It’s also inaccurate to say the $ “goes to students”, in fact it goes to wealthy donors underwriting tuition for schools that gouge + can legally discriminate!

[Assemblymember Robert Carroll @Bobby4Brooklyn]

Reading is the foundation of every child’s education.

Yesterday, the Legislature passed my bill to ensure New York libraries have access to guidance on evidence-based early literacy practices aligned with the science of reading.

We’ve made real progress on literacy reform in New York, but there is still much more to do. Every child deserves the opportunity to become a fluent reader.

#ScienceOfReading #Literacy #RightToRead

[Gothamist @Gothamist]

NYC gets more funds for homeless, foster and English-learning students

https://t.co/9UoYy3svOD

[Parents to Improve School Transportation @pistnyc]

#WheresMyBus🚍The state bills for school bus Employee Protection Provisions have one last chance to get through in this legislative session and enhance workforce stability and the #Safety of our students .
Share the #petition https://t.co/ScUCbfgr4V

[Madina Touré @madinatoure]

New York City is expanding its math and reading curricula to more school districts across the five boroughs, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced Thursday. https://t.co/tlm8S2tpYT

[Jay Brown 🚸🏫 jaybrown.bsky.social @JayBrownNYC]

Powerful testimony at last night's CEC21 meeting from student who is deaf, advocating for universal hearing screenings in @NYCSchools. A 5-minute test can prevent years of academic & social struggle. Support her student-led petition for early detection: https://t.co/KMEbWTMJN6

[District 30 3K/Pre-K Centers @D30PreK]

Thank you @d30cec and Superintendent Lisa Hidalgo, @nycdistrict30 for hosting our D30 Family Fun Day. Thank you to our staff for volunteering and having fun making hand puppets with our D30 families. We all had a wonderful time🥰 #familyfunday #handpuppet #year4

[Chalkbeat New York @ChalkbeatNY]

Does your child’s PTA raise $1 million or $0? New data shows how parent fundraising continues to exacerbate inequities in NYC public school classrooms. https://t.co/p6SQoVf6u2

[Assemblymember Robert Carroll @Bobby4Brooklyn]

Today was a powerful Dyslexia Advocacy Day in Albany.

Thank you to all the parents, students, educators, advocates, and organizations who came to the Capitol to fight for every child’s right to read. And thank you to my colleague Jo Anne Simon for her years of leadership and partnership on dyslexia advocacy.

I’m proud to be leading legislation to transform how New York supports students struggling to read, including:

• The Right to Read Act (A.78A/S.9747)
• The New York Individuals with Dyslexia Education Act — NYIDEA (A.37/S.6844)
• Teacher training and certification in dyslexia identification (A.10968/S.10031)
• The Libraries Literacy Education Guidance Act (A.5835B/S.8044A)

I’m also proud of the work we’ve already accomplished, including legislation creating the State Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Center, the Dyslexia Task Force, the Dyslexia Diagnosis Act — a first-in-the-nation law requiring private insurance coverage for neuropsychological exams for dyslexia — and broader efforts to strengthen statewide support for students and families.

Every child deserves evidence-based literacy instruction and the opportunity to succeed. We’ve made real progress — but there’s still more work to do.

[Madina Touré @madinatoure]

Gov. Kathy Hochul defended a GOP-backed scholarship program Monday amid staunch opposition from New York’s powerful teachers union. https://t.co/1JU6gZ0kih

[Gothamist @Gothamist]

State audit finds gaps in NYC schools' oversight of tech and student data

https://t.co/LoPrhQ0usp

[leonie haimson @leoniehaimson]

NYC teachers & parents say they’re worried kids are now forced to slog through mind-numbing exercises in workbooks, rather than nurturing joy from reading whole books. Some also criticize new boxed curriculums as too rigid and lacking diversity. https://t.co/970oGGnhIM

[State Senator Andrew Gounardes @Sen_Gounardes]

I've written a letter to Chancellor Samuels encouraging him to pause AI implementation at @NYCSchools.

We need stronger privacy protections for kids, clearer guidelines for teachers, and real guardrails to ensure students' needs are always put before Big Tech's profits.

[Queens Chronicle @QueensChronicle]

The Panel for Educational Policy meeting on April 29 lasted nearly seven hours, with more than 100 people testifying, many against the use of artificial intelligence in schools. https://t.co/lL3TWC2gKW

[Chalkbeat New York @ChalkbeatNY]

NYC paid $723 million in private tuition for students with disabilities last year. 71% were white. https://t.co/ie4W31VKAK