New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) today kicked off the first ever “Math Week”. From Monday, October 19, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026, schools across the city will prove that everyone can be a math person through events and activations.
Over the course of the week, Chancellor Kamar Samuels, First Deputy Chancellor Danielle Giunta, and other senior leaders will be visiting schools in each of the boroughs to speak with students and observe NYC Solves classrooms. Chancellor Samuels will also be leading students in an “Estimathon” event, posing real world questions and working collaboratively to figure out ways to find the answer, and partnering with LEGO for an architecture-themed activity.
NYCPS is also launching a digital “I Am a Math Person” campaign. This dynamic new campaign will feature a “Problem of the Day” inviting participants to test their skills through a series of math problems. Topics will include architecture, puzzles and games, cooking, finance, and sports.
Since Day 1, Chancellor Samuels has been laser-focused on increasing academic rigor. Last spring, NYCPS announced a major expansion to NYC Solves, bringing high-quality, evidence-backed, project-based learning to over 100,000 students across 10 additional districts, including elementary schools in four districts.
In addition to visiting classrooms, Chancellor Samuels will also attend the Educators 4 Excellence Math Summit on Wednesday.
“The goal of Math Week is to prove that every student can be a math person,” said Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Math is about curiosity, problem-solving, and the confidence to keep trying. With the right support through NYC Solves, every student can build the skills and confidence needed to be a mathematician.”
Since January, the Mamdani administration has prioritized academic rigor for all students, baselining $67.5 million to support preschoolers with disabilities, expanding NYC Solves to reach an additional 100,000 students, and bringing more literacy supports to high schoolers through NYC Reads through a $17.3 million investment.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
