NYC Schoolkids Get a Full Week Off Before Christmas Thanks to a 7th Grader's Petition

New York City schoolkids will enjoy a full week off before Christmas break, thanks to the efforts of a determined Brooklyn seventh-grader, Isaac Regnier. Regnier's petition to cancel classes on Monday, December 23rd, garnered tens of thousands of signatures, ultimately convincing the Department of Education to make the change.

Regnier, a student at IS 96 in Bensonhurst, launched his petition, “Fix the NYC Schools Calendar,” in May. He argued that the previous calendar, which included a single school day on Monday, December 23rd, was inconvenient for both students and teachers, as many families would be traveling for the holidays.

The petition garnered significant media attention and support, collecting over 22,000 signatures. Mayor Eric Adams, alongside newly appointed Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, joined Regnier at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters to announce the schedule change.

“Isaac, he was able to get this victory, and I think it’s going to cascade throughout the entire school system that young people are going to know that their voice matters,” said Adams. “This is what leadership is about.”

The decision to grant the extra day off was made after consulting with the teachers' union to ensure it wouldn't impact state funding requirements, which mandate 180 days of school per year. This isn't the first time NYC schools have altered their calendar to accommodate holiday travel; in 2019, a similar petition led to the removal of a Monday, December 23rd school day.

Regnier’s victory serves as a reminder that even the youngest voices can make a difference, and that a little bit of initiative can lead to positive change.

NYC Schoolkids Get a Full Week Off Before Christmas Thanks to a 7th Grader's Petition