The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection warns New Yorkers of “friendly greeting” phishing scams, which are deceptive text messages from unknown senders that can lead to fraud. Phishing is a common technique that scammers use to send fraudulent communications that appear to come from a reputable or trusted source. It is really an attempt to trick consumers into revealing personal information or clicking on harmful links that can download malware to their devices. Phishing scams are usually performed through text messages, emails, or chats on WhatsApp, Signal, or Facebook Messenger platforms.

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing targeted privacy protection tips for adults and children ahead of the new school year. Under New York State’s Education Law, if you are a parent of a child in the New York State schools, you have rights regarding the privacy and security of your child’s personal information and data. New York State law requires each educational agency to publish a parents’ bill of rights for data privacy and security on its website.

With 34% of U.S. adults saying they expect to shop for back-to-school season, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual 2024 June survey, going into the school year with a plan can make all the difference.

In today’s America, 1 in 5 children faces hunger or food insecurity – a reality reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic youth, these numbers are even higher. With rising poverty and deepening income inequality, the number of children living in food-insecure households has increased by 45% since 2021.

When a new school year begins, most teachers don’t wait long before they begin scheduling tests, and assigning loads of homework and reading assignments.

The skills young children need for success in elementary school and beyond are developed during the first five years of life. For families, selecting the right preschool with thoroughly trained faculty and a curriculum designed to nurture foundational academic, social, emotional, and physical skills is critical to extending learning to home.