THE CHILDREN’S AGENDA RELEASES RCSD BUDGET ANALYSIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Josh Jensen

585-770-4268

jjensen@tippingpointcomm.com

THE CHILDREN’S AGENDA RELEASES RCSD BUDGET ANALYSIS

Watchdog Group Highlights a NYS Budget Trickle-Down Effect on

Rochester’s Most Vulnerable

WHAT:  Today, The Children’s Agenda (TCA) released the executive summary for its annual RCSD Budget Analysis. Key points include the trickle-down effect of the recently passed New York State budget and how it’s impacting cuts to RCSD services and programs are creating devastating consequences for the most vulnerable children in our community. Programs for young mothers, refugees, and children with special needs just to name a few. The full executive summary can be found HERE, with the full report set to be released on April 23rd.

The Children’s Agenda’s recommendations for the Rochester City School District include:

• Restoration of Social Workers to Provide Legally Mandated Counseling
• Restoration of Special Education Staff
• Development of a Permanent Newcomer Program for Internally Displaced Spanish Speakers
• Restoration of English for Speakers of Other Languages Teachers
• Elimination of School Resource Officers
• Requesting to the City of Rochester a Waiver of the 2021 Cash Capital Requirement
• Enacting Equitable Distribution of Cuts Across All RCSD Departments
• Fully Funding Foundation Aid by New York State

 WHO:  “Children who attend RCSD are especially vulnerable given the district’s already deep financial problems, generational effects of poverty and racism, and the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said The Children’s Agenda Education Policy Manager, Eamonn Scanlon. “The proposed 2020-2021 RCSD budget disproportionally cuts critically important programs and services, hurting the most vulnerable of an already extremely vulnerable population that the school district serves.”

TCA’s Policy Manager is available for media interviews, upon request, to discuss the grave concerns related to this budget, evidence-based recommendations the district should consider, and further details on how the community can get involved.

TAKE ACTION:  RCSD needs to take immediate and appropriate action to address financial shortfalls in their budgetary priorities. Parents and concerned community members still have time to have their voices heard and fight for the programs that they care about.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Board of Education will host their second public budget hearing. Although the public cannot attend in person due to COVID-19, you can still submit in public comments to BoardOfEducation@RCSDK12.org.

The Children’s Agenda is an independent, nonpartisan, organization that receives no government funding and has no government employees or officials on its Board of Directors. It advocates for evidence-based solutions to improve the health, education and success of our community’s children, like improved access to high-quality childcare and early education and effective parenting programs like the Nurse Family Partnership.

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