Courtesy of DOE
The agency said it launched the new-look site “to help you, New York City public school families, find what you need—in your language—on your phone, computer, or tablet.”
By Forum Staff
Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza has announced the launching of a new DOE website at www.schools.nyc.gov, providing families and communities with improved access to critical information about public schools.
“Students and families need access to information to be truly empowered. This new website gives them meaningful, translated, easy-to-navigate information, right from their mobile devices,” said Carranza.
The DOE used web analytics to gain a deep understanding of how users were interacting with the previous site and based design decisions on this analysis, as well as feedback from families. The new site is:
• Mobile-ready
• More accessible for individuals with disabilities, with enhanced screen-reader compatibility, descriptively labeled images and hyperlinks, and easier keyboard navigation.
• Streamlined with an easy-to-use design and structure, including:
• Improved search capabilities that make it easier to find up-to-date, relevant information anywhere on the site.
• Family-focused information written in plain language at a grade 6-9 reading level.
• Easy-to-use dropdown menus for frequently visited sections such as Enrollment, Special Education and Careers.
• Calendar and Find a School tools – the most-used tools on the old site – on every page.
The website continues to be translated into nine languages. Site pages are also available in the more than 100 languages provided by Google Translate.
The July launch of the new website ensures families and educators are introduced to the site in time for the new school year. The site’s Welcome to the New DOE Website page includes a link for user comments, and the DOE will also hold focus groups this summer and early fall for feedback.
Together with the new www.schools.nyc.gov launch, the DOE is also launching the InfoHub, a website that will offer information targeted to partner organizations, policy makers, researchers, families looking for more detailed data about New York City schools, and other audiences. The InfoHub also includes an employee site. Users will be able to navigate to the InfoHub from www.schools.nyc.gov. Additional data is also available on NYC Open Data.
