The New York City public school system is set to launch a new language translation app designed to enhance communication between families and school staff. Mayor Eric Adams and Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced the initiative on Monday. Named “Hello,” the app will incorporate speech-to-text and text-to-speech technology in the twelve most spoken languages within the school system. It is scheduled to be made available citywide in Spring 2026.
The necessity for this app stems from the fact that over 44% of public school students speak a language other than English at home. Collectively, these students communicate in at least 156 languages, as highlighted in a recent report from the Multilingual Advisory Council. This linguistic diversity has prompted advocates to raise concerns about the accessibility of essential school documents, which are often provided only in English. Parents frequently rely on their children to interpret during important meetings, such as parent-teacher conferences.
Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, who is fluent in Spanish, acknowledged the challenges even native speakers face in translating educational terminology. “Families belong at the table when decisions are being made about their children’s education,” she stated during the press conference. “Resources like this translation app ensure that language diversity is not a barrier to access.”
The app is being developed in-house with the assistance of a vendor and will operate independently from the school system’s existing messaging platform. A spokesperson for the schools emphasized that this standalone application aims to streamline communication and make it more inclusive for families from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
The initiative reflects a broader commitment by the New York City public school system to foster an inclusive environment. With the introduction of the “Hello” app, the administration seeks to empower families, ensuring they can engage fully in their children’s educational journeys without the hindrance of language barriers.
