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…

New York has taken another step toward creating a universal child care system, with Monroe County at the forefront. Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed $20 million in state funding for the Monroe County Child Care Pilot Program, a three-year program that has a target of expanding coverage for an additional…

We believe every child in New York who needs Early Intervention services should receive them. We encourage Governor Hochul and NYS legislators to make the investments necessary to ensure these therapies are available to every child. The Assembly and Senate have called for increased EI funding in their one-house budget…

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…

Approximately 28,000 households in Rochester would lose access to SNAP benefits in November. Over 31 percent of the city’s households rely on the federal program. Members of Voices of Community Activists and Leaders joined the Children’s Agenda at St. Peter’s Kitchen last week calling attention to the impact on food-insecure…

Lawmakers and organizations have voiced their support for recommendations by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council that would reduce child poverty statewide by 50 percent by 2031.

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 long-term decline of the industry, pandemic-driven losses, staffing shortages and high costs have contributed to a child care shortage.

Parents who have been at home with their young children for months are looking forward to getting back to work. Unfortunately, they may come to realize that their child care program won’t be able to take their kids back. Children, whose lives have been disrupted by this crisis and thrive…

Progressives and conservatives can agree that self-sufficiency is a worthy goal of social policy. That’s why policy wonks of all stripes support the Earned Income Tax Credit.

In Rochester city schools, perceptions of safety, low school attendance and a lack of trust and connection among students, teachers and staff are some of the conditions that have held the problem of low school performance in place.

A broad coalition of area community groups, local nonprofits and other organizations is calling on state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to work with its members, as well as with parents of Rochester public school students and others, to develop plans, methods and strategies to address the Rochester City School District’s…