Child advocacy organizations such as The Children’s Agenda said the increased pre-K access will provide more young learners with a chance to build foundational skills, including reading, identifying colors and simple math. “About 90% of a child’s brain develops before they even enter the formal school system at age 5.…

As New York moves toward universal prekindergarten for 4-year-olds, the debate over what comes next is increasingly turning to 3K and how the state can eventually provide free child care for every 3-year-old. The final state budget that Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers approved earlier this year included a plan…

Board commissioners who voted against the contracts expressed concerns about overpolicing students, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the cost of the programs, which total $968,800. To date, $3.3 million has been budgeted for the program. “Fear isn’t always the best way to get to the right solution or to the solution…

Financial strain, low-performing schools, and state recommendations for improvements are a recurring narrative for Eamonn Scanlon, director of community impact at the Children's Agenda who has been studying the district for nearly a decade. “What you usually see is this pattern of cutting back on those extra things ... even…

Outrage continues to grow after a vote to adopt the proposed Rochester City School District budget for next school year. The $1.16 billion budget for the 2026-27 school year was approved in a 4-3 vote Tuesday evening at the RCSD budget adoption meeting. The adopted budget cuts social work services,…

These concerns, as well as cuts to food service, school counselors, and special education FTEs were echoed by members of the community at a previous budget forum, which had over 50 speakers. Local educational advocacy group the Children’s Agenda also released a report on the proposed budget, focusing on cuts…

Skepticism and doubt remain after the Rochester city school board passed — by a margin of one vote — a $1.16 billion budget that many community members, staff and parents opposed. The budget is larger than last year’s by about $44 million, though the district is also anticipating a fiscal…

Several teachers, students and concerned community members gathered outside Rochester City Hall on April 27 in protest of the Rochester City School District's proposed budget. The demonstration, organized by The Children's Agenda, Citizen Action of NY and Vocal NY, was held ahead of the budget hearing for the proposed budget…

Community members gathered at Rochester City Hall to protest proposed budget cuts to student support services within the Rochester City School District ahead of a City Council budget hearing. Counselors and social workers support students beyond the classroom, speakers said. They described working with students dealing with serious health issues…

Protestors gathered outside Rochester City Hall on Monday over proposed cuts to programs in the upcoming Rochester City School District budget. Rochester City Council held a hearing on the RCSD budget, one day ahead of another deliberation session for the Board of Education. The group The Children's Agenda says it's…

The proposed budget for next school year would reduce district-wide counseling, social work and psychology funding by about $3 million, according to the draft budget book. About 45 guidance counselor and social worker positions are also on the chopping block. District leadership previously pledged to bulk up student mental health…

Education advocates are pushing for more state funding for 3-year-old prekindergarten programs in Rochester and across New York. Local advocates hosted a press conference Wednesday at the Rochester Early Childhood Education Center to highlight the importance of funding for 3-year-old PreK. Rochester’s decades-long prekindergarten evaluation study found that attending prekindergarten…

NEW YORK — New York City lawmakers and advocates are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to boost funding for child care vouchers to shrink a rapidly growing waitlist of thousands of families — or risk undermining efforts to expand access to child care. Hochul’s executive budget proposal earlier this year…

Last week, the state legislature officially backed Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to offer every 4-year-old in New York a free pre-K seat within the next three years. New York’s public pre-K program served three-quarters of eligible 4-year-olds last school year. But thousands of children statewide still lack access because their…

The Children’s Agenda Senior Policy Analyst Shannon Mullin discusses the limited access to pre-kindergarten outside of New York City and considers what has been proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase availability.

Governor Kathy Hochul is making child care a priority in the upcoming state budget. It comes with new proposals to expand pre-K programs and assist more New Yorkers with child care assistance.

Advocates in New York State are celebrating an announcement today by Governor Kathy Hochul. Her administration is investing in statewide universal pre-K and additional programs to help families.

Voters across New York — both Democrats and Republicans — want the state to invest more in affordable child care, a new poll found. It’s the latest sign of growing political pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul to push for the popular but expensive program ahead of a tough reelection race…

The way that universal prekindergarten in New York state is funded is flawed and unsustainable, according to a recent report from three organizations. The Alliance for Quality Education, The Public Policy Education Fund, and the Children's Agenda all say the funding model needs an overhaul. “Attending pre–K has huge short-…

New York’s funding for pre-K education is not keeping up with inflation, according to a new report.

A spokesperson for the Governor’s office tells News 8 the plans already submitted by districts are currently under review. School administrators are considering exceptions to the ban. This includes for various medical conditions with a doctor’s note, students who need translation services, or for educational purposes through IEPs. “What parents…

Trump Administration layoffs and closure of the Department of Education will impact children in every school district.

"But the danger is that these things don't follow through. So we want to make sure that these things actually get implemented and that they're in the final budget book. We're happy that there's funding for restorative practices and the restorative team. We're happy that there is this rollout that's…

The Children's Agenda, a local advocacy group, has emphasized the importance of addressing mental health, school climate, discipline, and transportation.

The Children’s Agenda has released its yearly review focused on the Rochester City School District’s budget. Organizers with the agency explained their findings Wednesday, including the most pressing issues according to approximately 70 RCSD parents surveyed.

What do local child advocates and parents think the Rochester City School District should prioritize in its budget? The district will hold a hearing on the proposed budget on Tuesday. This hour, we sit down with Eamonn Scanlon, director of community impact for The Children's Agenda, to discuss the nonprofit's…

As the state budget deadline nears in New York, Governor Hochul’s $13.5 million proposal to ban cell phones in public schools, K-12, remains a key talking point. The State Senate is pushing back with the suggestion to allow for limited phone use in between classes. As previously reported, the state’s…

The Children’s Agenda considers limiting the use of smartphones during school time a worthy goal, one which will be especially helpful curtailing bullying and improving academics particularly for low-income students.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that she wants free breakfast and lunch for every student in every school district in New York. This means not just free meals in the city of Rochester, but free meals in school districts like Pittsford, Brighton, and Penfield as well. Jason DeLooze, a…

New York State is looking to cover school meals for students, according to a new initiative. This proposed program is part of Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State, which will ensure that over 2.7 million public school students will receive free breakfasts and lunches at school.

More than 200 education, farm, union and anti-hunger groups have sent a letter to the governor urging her to include universal free meals in her next state budget.

State lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul honed in on the backlog of early intervention needs in this year’s budget, but not much progress has been made solving this critical problem.

Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates will conduct group interviews with stakeholder organizations this week as part of its search for a new Rochester City School District superintendent.

A new report by The Children’s Agenda, EdTrust-NY, and Raising New York outlines strategies for New York State to enhance families’ economic well-being, ultimately benefiting children and communities. The report recommends making public benefits programs more accessible to eligible families.

School closures are a fact of life in a country as dynamic as the United States.

NPR’s Juana Summers talks with ProPublica ’s Alec MacGillis about his recent reporting on how declining enrollment is a crisis for American public schools.

Rochester, New York, is shutting 11 of its 45 schools. In Seattle, parents expect 20 elementary schools will close. In Columbus, Ohio, nine schools may cease to operate. Closings fall especially on majority-Black schools. As top students move to private and suburban schools, special-needs students are left behind in fewer…

A study by The Children’s Agenda from Fall 2023 found district finances as one of the driving forces behind a lack of buy-in.

“Suspensions don’t help anything; it’s more of a punishment than a solution,” Victor Vega, a student in the Rochester City School District, said.

What is the state of education in Rochester? How can the community help Rochester’s children thrive?

High school students in New York may soon see changes to their graduation requirements.

Parents really didn’t get a voice before this was presented.

Over the past two academic years, nearly 40 percent of students in the Rochester City School District experienced some kind of housing or school instability.

The Children's Agenda has been closely studying housing instability and its impact on kids and education, and its report found lower grades and graduation rates are closely linked to unstable housing.

Housing instability hurts children's education. A new report calls for policies to limit the harm housing instability causes to children.

'Devastating' housing instability in Rochester with almost 38% of students moving or changing schools over two years.

Access to nutritious food is vital. Free school meals will be available in Greece Central School District starting this fall.

Toyin said the new telehealth services meant she could stay at work while her son was seen by a doctor. He felt well enough to return to class.

New school-based health centers plus telemedicine will expand access to health care for Rochester city school children.

Data show that suspensions are linked to increased negative attitudes towards school, lower math and reading scores, higher dropout rates, and most troublingly, higher likelihood of incarceration.

The Rochester City School Board approved the 2023-2024 school year budget at over $1 billion.

Suspensions at schools took center stage Thursday. People gathered in front of the Rochester City School District administration building to rally and march. It’s to support a bill that would limit student suspensions across the state.

A national assessment shows average test scores for elementary students across the country are down, but New York state schools saw an even steeper decline.

In place of passing Regents exams, students can demonstrate they have learned skills they can use in college and careers.

Suspensions might sound normal, but suspending students from school is an outdated and punitive form of discipline that causes harm and should be used as a last resort.

New York state allows students to be suspended for up to 180 days — an entire school year. As a result, thousands of students across the state have been kept out of school for a month or more, cut off from their peers and receiving just an hour or two…

The Children’s Agenda Education Policy Director Eamonn Scanlon makes the case for alternative disciplinary measures.

When most people hear school suspension, they think teenagers. However according to a new report - from the Children's Agenda, 15,306 from 15 area school districts were suspended at least once in the 2020-2021 school year. 606 of the students were in grades pre-k through third.

The Children’s Agenda Education Policy Director Eamonn Scanlon makes the case for alternative disciplinary measures.

The Children's Agenda is calling for the end of suspensions for young children in New York.

One local group is offering up alternatives to suspending kids from school and calling for changes in the state.

Despite a stated interest in moving away from harsh disciplinary practices, local schools continue to suspend students at high and unequal rates, according to a report released Thursday by The Children's Agenda.

When most people hear school suspension, they think teenagers. However according to a new report - from the Children's Agenda, 15,306 from 15 area school districts were suspended at least once in the 2020-2021 school year. 606 of the students were in grades pre-k through third.

Parents are showing cautious optimism about the new school year. That’s according to new polling by the Children’s Agenda, which took responses from 600 parents in the region about the school year.

A group of local pastors and community leaders gathered on West Broad Street early Sunday morning outside the city school district central office building as part of activities for Children’s Interfaith Weekend.

Local faith leaders and community members gathered outside the offices of the Rochester City School District Sunday morning to renew their commitment to support the children of Rochester.

The Children’s Agenda is calling for an end to school suspensions for students Pre-K to Grade 3. 84% of Monroe County parents support solutions not suspensions.

Parents are showing cautious optimism about the new school year. That’s according to new polling by the Children’s Agenda, which took responses from 600 parents in the region about the school year.

With just days before the district's budget is due, there are still many unanswered questions as to what is and is not included in the final draft.

The Children's Agenda released a preliminary budget analysis Wednesday outlining many of those commonly cited concerns about the current proposal.

Several community members and parents attended the Rochester City School District board meeting Thursday night to share questions and concerns over the proposed $836 million budget for the 2022-2023 school year.

After the Rochester City School District released a revised budget plan last week, some are calling for more transparency from district leaders.

This year, advocacy groups are asking families to call for more mental health supports.

Rochester non-profit The Children’s Agenda recently released the results of a poll that surveyed 400 Monroe County parents about issues their children and families have faced and the solutions they support.

Carrying baggage into a situation where focus is paramount can make even the simplest of tasks a challenge. Such is the case for nearly half the children in Rochester who are all living at or below the federal poverty line.

While Regents testing was once considered the gold standard, some now see it as a barrier to graduation.

The Children's Agenda conducted a first-of-its-kind poll of Monroe County parents. The responses from 400 parents countywide identified issues their children and families are facing and solutions they support.

A county-wide poll is revealing many parents are facing a series of similar struggles.

Monroe County families are in crisis, according to a recent poll conducted by The Children’s Agenda.

The Children’s Agenda says mental health is a top concern for parents in Monroe County. The organization released findings from a survey.

Hundreds of Monroe County parents participated in a first-of-its-kind poll conducted by The Children's Agenda.

The state-wide mask mandate is still in effect amid an ongoing legal battle, but even if it were lifted, a local medical expert says schools should still require masks indoors.

Parents and children’s advocates have some differing views about the Rochester City School District’s decision to return some classrooms to in-person learning while others stay remote.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul last week signed legislation to increase funding for Early Intervention services for young children with developmental delays and also pledged a major funding increase for specialized schools serving children with disabilities.

Some students with disabilities may see a boost in support this coming year as Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a package of bills into law on Thursday that would do just that. The new legislation includes designating a newly established Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board. The board would in part help…

ROC the Future is gearing up to release its annual State of Our Children report. This year's document is a nine-year summary showing areas of progress and what needs further work.

School officials in Rochester, New York voted on Tuesday to station police officers outside the city’s 11 high schools when students arrive and leave their campuses each day.

Now, with previously cooped-up kids back in classrooms, the number of campus fights and disruptions has grown, putting pressure on local school board officials to reestablish police presence. In recent weeks, police and private security officers have been posted outside high schools at the beginning and end of the school…

As Rochester schools see incidents of violence, children's advocates are calling for the school system to push forward, and not turn back by bringing police back into schools. Children's Agenda Educational Policy Director Eamonn Scanlon said disturbances involving students frequently pick up this time of year and, after the disruption…

Days after leaders from four Rochester City School unions asked the district to address growing security concerns – including an incident when someone fired a gun outside All City High -- residents spoke out at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Talks between Rochester school and city officials continued on Wednesday to address violence among students at Rochester City schools.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello called for new legislation that would increase early intervention resources in New York for children and students during an address Saturday.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is calling for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to make sure kids in New York with special needs can get the help they need paid for.

Parents in the Rochester City School District marched to the central office Thursday night asking the district to invest in mental health. They said children in this city are being impacted mentally, socially and emotionally by the violence around them and that it’s affecting their behavior at home and at school.

The Rochester City School District’s Board of Education passed a nearly billion-dollar budget for the 2021-22 school year that is bolstered by government money from COVID-19 relief packages and based on recommendations from the state monitor.

Local advocates at the Children’s Agenda said they believe more changes should be made after the Rochester City School District released its 2021-2022 budget Monday night. The $986 million approved by the Board of Education and surpasses last year’s budget by around $58 million.

When the pandemic ends, it will not be cheap for East’s staff to get students, many of whom have checked out during the school’s remote learning offerings, back up to speed. While the new American Rescue Plan funnels nearly $130 billion into K-12 nationally to deal with fallout from the…

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that the Rochester-Finger Lakes region will receive $391 million for K-12 education. The money comes from the recent COVID-19 federal stimulus package.