As your School Superintendent of one of the best Urban School District’s in this country, my hope is that you had a peaceful summer and that you and your child(ren) are already starting to feel a sense of excitement about their return to school. I can hardly wait!! The start of a school year is always a bit exciting, as it is a time of “NEW BEGINNINGS!!” We have a new vision for the Buffalo Public Schools, and it is as follows:

Welcome to the Buffalo Public Schools, where excellence is our primary expectation, with no excuses!

It will take a collective effort, both district and city-wide, for us to realize this inclusive vision. As we prepare to move the Buffalo Public Schools to a new level, our mantra is: “ONE VOICE… ONE VISION… ONE MISSION!” In order for us to maintain this excitement for coming years, our number one priority is making sure that all of our students and staff are safe, every day in every school. Safety must always be maintained.

Dr. Tonja M. Williams Knight

The Council of the Great City Schools has long been an advocate for shared standards across districts to set high expectations for students and enable districts to leverage resources so that students achieve them.

The Common Core State Standards resulted from the work led by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA). These standards build on the foundation laid by states and are research- and evidence-based, aligned with college and career expectations, rigorous and internationally benchmarked. Council members provided feedback through the development process.

The Council has received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to assist the Council in supporting member districts implementing these standards. Strategic support will address:

• Change management and strategic communication

• Building awareness and capacity at the district and community level

• Development of tools to implement standards for all students

• Pilot-testing and coordination of tools

• Providing tools to measure progress in implementing the Common Core State Standards

More information about Common Core State Standards: for the Council of the Great City Schools Common Core Project

Parents' Bill of Rights
As part of the Common Core Implementation Reform Act, Education Law §2-d requires that each educational agency in the State of New York must develop a Parents' Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security (Parents' Bill of Rights).

The Buffalo Public Schools recognizes that the safety of our children is the responsibility of the entire community. We offer the link below to promote this safety.  Please be aware that these sites are located on external servers and are not under the control of the Buffalo Public Schools.  The Buffalo Public Schools assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or content of these external sites.

NEW YORK STATE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

A Word to Parents:

Please review the safety tips below with your child and remember to inform your school principal of any suspicious activity that may lead to harm to anyone.

• Remember to be very careful about strangers.

• Do not get close to a vehicle when a stranger is asking for directions or information.

• Never walk alone.

• Tell an adult if anything unusual happens. 

• Always check first with a parent or a trusted adult before going anywhere, accepting anything, or getting in a car with anyone. This applies to older children as well.

• Always take a friend and do not not go out alone when they going places or playing outside.

• Know that it's okay to say NO if someone tries to touch them or treats the in a way that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

• Tell a parent or a trusted adult if they feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.