The application process to public pre k schools or the real "March Madness" has begun.

March Madness has started.  No, I’m not referring to the NCAA Tournament, I’m writing about another kind of madness.  The application process to public pre k schools.  And if you’re lucky your son(s) or daughter(s) or a combination will get into their highest seeded school. 

The application process for public pre k opened on March 16 and runs until April 24.  What are your first steps?  Simple.  Find out what school you’re zoned for.  Everyone has one zoned school, but that doesn't mean you have to only try for that school.  First step would be to visit insideschools.org and research the schools in your zone.  Just remember that just because a school in your zone, doesn't mean you're zoned for that school.  Being zoned for a school means that's the school your child most probably will attend. But with my son we didn't get into any pre k school.  But we learned a lesson.  We learned you can apply to up to 12 schools on http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/PreK/default.htm.  Log on to www.insideschools.org and research the schools in your "zone" and not only the one you are zoned for.  

For kindergarten we knew we could probably get into our zoned school PS 163, PS 75, or PS 84.  We had no doubt that all those schools would be good some day but got the developing status.  So we decided to try and take a bit of a risk.  We applied to a school which we heard about from friends and relatives.  Everyone had good things to say about it.  So with the application we applied to a reach school PS 166, figuring we were close enough (we're on 96th Street and the school is on 89th street), we didn't get in there, but gave it the old college (or kindergarten try).  A friend of ours who son took the G&T test got into that school for G&T so it never hurts to try.  With out second choice we selected PS 333 the school that friends and relatives were touting.  We got in.  This leads me to a point.  We choose  PS 333 as our second choice, and were accepted.  That means that if you lived in the area within five blocks, I'm assuming and picked PS 333 as your top or second choice you would get in.

But along with the http://schools.nyc.gov/ application, we also applied and were accepted at a very good new school called Harlem Hebrew Language Academy Charter School.  Yes the school does teach Hebrew to all students, but the school is the most diverse school in the city.  NYC public schools have a problem.  According to published reports (and common sense) NYC has the most segregated school system in the nation.  If you live on the upper east side, gramercy park area chances are the school your child will go to will be mostly white and if you live on 96th street on the east or west side the schools are mostly black and Spanish.  The schools on 96th street on the east or west side get less funding are most crowded and have lower test scores then those schools just blocks away (89th Street to be exact).

But charter schools Mayor Bill de Blasio's target of lies and deception, has leveled the playing field, allowing students in underserved school zones, the option to attend a well funded, clean quality school and get the kind of education those who live a few blocks south get.  Charter schools are lessening the burden put on by underserved school but accepting students that would have attended those schools, thus making those schools less crowded and therefore better.  Do some research on charter schools and apply to the ones you like.  Charter schools have separate applications and won't have an impact on the public pre k or kindergarten  application process.  So why not research charter schools also and apply to the ones you like.  It can't hurt.

So in conclusion, don't just apply to one school, the school you’re zoned for.  Apply to as many schools as you can.  Rate the schools you like the best with higher ratings and still apply to the school you are zoned for as a safety school.  And don't forget to apply to charter schools also.  They have separate applications and won't hurt your application to public pre k schools.   Make sure the big winners in March Madness are you and your child.

Well the Knicks were eliminated from playoffs contention today.

Shocking I know.   Every time I see Lee, Zach, Wilson Chandler or Gallo play I'm reminded what a terrible decision it was to get rid of all those players to sign Carmelo Anthony and of course Lebron who would never have come here anyway. Both Miami and Chicago were much better options for Lebron. Good job Donnie Walsh and idiot Dolan. Giving up Lee, Zach, Wilson Chandler and Gallo to sign Carmelo Anthony was just a great move. Pays dividends every day.

Unemployment rates never included those who dropped out of the workforce in our history

I always hear the same argument from republicans when the great job numbers come out every month.  I hear from republicans at CNBC, Barron's, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal and the NY Post that the unemployment number doesn't include those who dropped out of the job market.  But you can always say the unemployment rate isn't accurate because it doesn't include those who dropped out of the work force.  You can say that about Ron Reagan unemployment rates.   Maybe people were dropping out of the workforce and that's why the unemployment rate was low under Reagan.  You can say that about Bush Sr and even Bush Jr.  But under Bush Jr, we were losing 500K jobs a month that gaining that number of jobs every month.  Maybe the number of people who were dropping out of the work force under Bush Jr was actually higher than the 500K number because that didn't include those who dropped out of the workforce.  Also many of the companies that have positions open, are saying there's no qualified people applying for those jobs.  Come on show a little objectivity.

Problem with Benjamin Netanyahu speaking here before he's re-elected

Benjamin Netanyahu is up for re-election  and if he doesn't win  having him speak here is of little importance. If the republicans really wanted to accomplish something they should have waited until after Benjamin Netanyahu is re-elected.    If Netanyahu doesn't win re-election it will be a major embarrassment for republicans. 

This is what Netanyahu said about in 2002, – “If You Take Out Saddam, I Guarantee, It Will Have Enormous Positive Reverberations on the Region” really because Mr. Netanyahu we took out Saddam and many could argue that things are worse now with ISIS controlling the region. As Bush Jr said Iraqis might "rise up." The problem with Iraqis is that they don't rise up and let anyone no matter how bad they are take control. 

We need to let Iraq take care of Iraq and deal with our own problems including failing infrastructure and a drug war we're losing. Instead of stupid pipeline which won't create jobs (it will end them in the rail industry) and if oil gets cheaper, it will end jobs with oil drillers who only make money when oil is $60. I'm not a pot smoker, but legalizing pot both medical and recreationally would create lots of tax money like its doing in colorado. And infrastructure improvements would create long term job and probably lower the unemployment rate.