FEATURED NEWS

High need school districts like the Rochester City School District are facing unprecedented mid-year reductions in education aid from New York State. The state's current approach to budget reductions disproportionately targets districts with the highest needs, undermines the purpose of New York State providing aid to local school districts, and…

Children are depending on us to urge our federal representatives to pass a robust COVID relief bill that fully addresses their needs. Compromise measures are not enough.

E-News Archive

Rochester currently stands as a city with the third highest child poverty rate in the nation – and COVID-19 has worsened that. Beyond Rochester, nearly 3 million New Yorkers, including 895,000 children, are living in poverty. One in five kids struggle to meet basic needs. The pandemic has caused another…

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue with rising unemployment. The virus has hit poor, non-white communities the hardest. An additional 10,000 children in Monroe County, and 325,000 across New York, fell into poverty between March and July, according to research from the United Hospital Fund.

Newly-proposed state legislation aims to aid children who are living in poverty.

Children's advocacy groups have a goal to cut child poverty by half over the next 10 years.

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblyman Harry Bronson, D-Rochester, and Rep. Jessica Ramos, D-Queens, to reduce child poverty statewide by 50 percent over the next decade.

The Rochester City School District has a budget shortfall of either $117 million or $199 million — or far less, depending on one's definition of "deficit," or far more, depending on state aid projections.

The Biden/Harris campaign says its proposals could cut the poverty rate in American in half. Connections discusses the proposals and the impact they could have.

With the election just a month away, a few local advocacy groups held a forum where candidates running for office in the state Assembly and the state Senate were able to weigh in on topics affecting families in our area.

The Children’s Agenda, RocActs and the Rochester Black Nurses Association are teaming up hosting a forum for local candidates running for the state legislature.

E-News Archive

Experts in child health and education say the pandemic will have lasting effects on children's social and emotional needs and their overall wellbeing. Effective in April 2021, the Children's Institute will be ROC the Future's new anchor entity. Representatives from the two organizations say the partnership will enable them to better focus their work…

The Children’s Agenda adds our voice to the thousands of others expressing our deepest sympathy with Daniel Prude’s family. Hearing his daughter Tashyra speak out about how her father was killed just days before her high school prom and graduation – and now, as she goes off to college without…

E-News Archive

Equity means ensuring additional supports for the students falling the farthest behind. One positive trend in reopening plans has been the prioritization of young children, students with disabilities, and English language learners, who research shows are the most in need of in-person instruction. Even so, to make up for the…

Childcare advocates rallied Thursday, calling on the state to release funding from the federal CARES Act to providers across New York.

According to a recent report from Roc the Future, the Rochester community has stepped up to improve the digital divide during the pandemic. The original report from April outlined technology disparities in the Rochester City School District. The updated report published this week says access is now a lot better.

Three decades ago, a team of researchers at Duke University set off to follow a group of schoolchildren in a stretch of rural North Carolina that happened to include a small reservation. Soon after, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a casino and began sharing the profits, about $4,000…

The looming threat of a 20% cut in state education funding has school districts across New York anxious — but, as is often the case, it is urban districts like Rochester that stand to suffer the most.

ACT Rochester is sending out a call to action, after publishing a new report that finds that minorities in Rochester are facing huge challenges in education, housing and economics.

Eammon Scanlon, education policy manager for the Children's Agenda, a Rochester-based non-profit, gives the school reopening plans he’s seen mixed marks, but he doesn’t blame school districts.

Students in the Rochester City School District collectively will spend less time in school buildings than any other school district in Monroe County, and nearly anywhere in New York, when classes resume this fall.

E-News Archive

The Rochester City School District will keep distributing MiFi devices known as hot spots to help students who are struggling to access the internet.

Congress returns later this month to work on the next round of help for struggling Americans during the pandemic. Is this the time for a national UBI program? Our guests discuss the possible impact of, well, just giving people cash and letting them decide what to do with it.

E-News Archive

The board of directors of The Children’s Agenda formally endorsed the Rochester Black Agenda Group’s declaration that “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” in its last meeting on June 11th.  We urge as many other organizations and individuals as possible to join us in signing the declaration.

Hundreds of New York toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities may lose access to in-home speech, behavioral, occupational and other therapies next week – because the coronavirus pandemic has prevented them from getting the services approved by their local school district.

An unspecified number of New York 3-year-olds with developmental delays and disabilities may lose their state-provided services next week if the state does not extend a key deadline, according to a group of 80 advocacy organizations.

As Emma Lazarus, the poet who’s other writing (“The New Colossus”) adorns our Statue of Liberty wrote, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.”

A day after Rochester City Council passed a budget which would remove armed officers from schools, local advocacy groups and activists celebrated a small win, though they immediately called on the district to put more funding behind programs that support students.

The 12 police officers stationed in city schools will not be there anymore. City council defunded the program in an amendment to the 2020-21 budget approved Tuesday. The officers, known as School Resource Officers (SROs), have been a fixture in the district since 1998. 

The Children’s Agenda is encouraged by City Council’s approval of the 2020-2021 City of Rochester budget. This budget includes several measures that will address inequities in the Rochester City School District, in the city’s decision-making process, and will realign city government priorities based on the will of our community. The…

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…

E-News Archive

This is the second of a series of blog posts regarding the current RSCD budget situation. The Rochester City School District (RCSD) is currently looking for ways to save $30.1 million this year to make up for overspending in the 2018-2019 budget. In The Children’s Agenda’s first blog post we…

Advocates and parents joined the Rochester School Board in an enthusiastic embrace of the board’s selection of former Brockport Central School District Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small, Ed.D. as the new superintendent of the Rochester City School District.

The Rochester Area Community Foundation has established a COVID Education Fund to urgently support the purchase of technology and home internet access for students who don’t have reliable or high-speed internet access or computers in their homes.

The RACF noted an April 15 report on the digital divide in Rochester, researched by The Children’s Agenda for ROC the Future, illustrates the problem. The U.S. Census indicates that 88 percent of Rochester residents have some type of computer, smart phone, or wireless device and, of those, 63 percent…

Nearly two dozen people voiced their ideas on how Rochester should spend $7.5 million in federal coronavirus relief funds at a City Council committee meeting Thursday.

When schools closed in March and teachers and students were pushed to online learning settings, the transition proved difficult for students who lack internet access and technology. The digital divide continues to be a concern, and the team at ROC the Future has analyzed where the gaps are and the impact they're…

A survey conducted the week of April 22 of New York parents found that 1 in 3 of of the parents surveyed had their hours and income reduced because of the pandemic, and two-thirds of the group said they were concerned about lost hours and lost employment going forward.

E-News Archive

The Children’s Agenda is pleased to help lead Raising NY, a diverse statewide coalition of parent, early childhood, education, civil rights, business, and health organizations. This coalition is dedicated to increasing the number of children birth to age three who are on track for school readiness. This coalition recently commissioned…

Stephanie Townsend is speaking out about the need for scientific literacy. She says the pandemic has underscored the erosion of this kind of literacy, and "understanding the scope, limits, and process of science is critical to an informed citizenry and electorate. No one study 'proves' anything."

There’s a Grand Canyon of difference between using phrases like “woke” for self-congratulatory advertising or for applause from the already-converted (like so many social media posts) -- versus taking action in the world to root out something as insidious and all-permeating as racism.

Distancing measures in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 have pushed early intervention services like Kaia’s physical therapy — required by both state and federal law for children under 3 years old — into the virtual realm.

The day after the Rochester City School District announces its latest round of budget cuts, D&C education reporter will speak with former board member Melanie Funchess and The Children’s Agenda budget analyst Eamonn Scanlon about the implications for children in the city. It took until March 27 for that list…

The Children's Agenda put together an online zoom training to help participants both understand what was in the Rochester City School District Budget and also show people how they could advocate on behalf of students in the district.

Rochester City School District officials have to bridge an $81 million gap in its budget for the upcoming academic year, which means cuts are inevitable.

There's a heated debate happening regarding what to cut, and what to keep, in Rochester city schools. Evan Dawson recently spoke to Superintendent Terry Dade; additionally he interviews board members about teacher cuts, emotional support cuts, building usage, and more.

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…

Back in January, when the Rochester City School District first proposed shifting some prekindergarten seats from community-based organizations into district buildings, officials said the list of affected organizations would be published as soon as it was ready. It took until March 27 for that list to be presented internally, a…

E-News Archive

Low-income families are in a particularly vulnerable spot as the coronavirus spreads. If schools close, where can kids get meals? What happens for families that are already deeply struggling?

E-News Archive

The Rochester Board of Education has voted in favor of Superintendent Terry Dade’s proposal to revamp the City School District’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. 

Superintendent Terry Dade continued his push for a revamp of the Rochester City School District’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program on Monday. Some Rochester Board of Education members say the board is split on Supt. Terry Dade’s plan to take over 60 % of Rochester’s pre-K program. The board is set to…

Local child care leaders say they're feeling the strain, saying that Monroe County and the City of Rochester face a lack of affordable care options for young kids.

The proposed restructuring of the RCSD’s preschool program will close high-quality community-based centers (CBOs)... in a new plan that hurts families hurts families and fails to demonstrate the promised savings.

We all want quality child care but it is a struggle to hire and retain quality staff when you offer low wages. Therefore, the turnover. Child care employees are dedicated and hard working but are not honored with adequate compensation. Affording a place to live has been getting harder and…

The Children's Agenda offered a 'teach-in' that discussed what caused the budget crisis. It says misreporting of numbers caused it.

On Thursday afternoon, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced three new enhancements to the county’s childcare subsidy program. The enhancements include a reduction in the parent fee percentage for subsidized child care to 20%, the development of childcare

Dozens of parents and community members came together Thursday to learn more about the financial crisis facing the Rochester City School District. Two community organizations - Roc the Future and The Children’s Agenda - teamed up for a forum on the budget.

Monroe County has made enhancements to the child care subsidy program in an effort to ensure working parents have access to vital programs.

Making Sense of the RCSD budget: Hosted by The Children's Agenda and ROC the Future. 5.30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Rochester Educational Opportunity Center, 161 Chestnut St., Rochester

The session is an opportunity to learn more about the district’s budget crisis by discussing its causes, how decisions about money are made, how parents can influence the district’s budget and outlining what is likely to happen next.

The district's plan to reapportion 500, or roughly 25%, of pre-K slots allotted local nonprofits to a handful of new and expanded city school sites has raised concerns from child care providers and parents.

E-News Archive

Over 60% of New Yorkers live in a child care desert, meaning more than 50 children under age five with no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care spots. The trip is free and breakfast and…

The Children’s Agenda is organizing an Early Childhood Advocacy Day trip to Albany for parents and providers to urge legislators for more support of affordable child care and funding for Early Intervention and preschool special education services. The trip is free and breakfast and lunch is provided. The bus will…

ROC the Future has released its annual "State of Our Children" report card, which tracks key measures of wellbeing of children and youth in the Rochester area.

The Children’s Agenda, a local youth advocacy group, says there is a growing shortage of available child care in New York and the rest of the nation.

A new report from The Children’s Agenda said the city is in the midst of a childcare crisis. According to the report, Rochester has approximately 9,000 kids under the age of 2 at any given time, but just under 1,000 child care slots.

Advocates for children are calling the lack of childcare in Monroe County a crisis. The problem is especially acute for newborns to age three. According to a newly released report by the Children's Agenda, there are only three slots for every 10 babies and toddlers who need care in Monroe…

A new report from The Children’s Agenda finds a deficiency in care for infants in toddlers across Monroe County, particularly in the City of Rochester.

E-News Archive

Many people will say that New York State is an expensive place to live, and a new study on the cost of child care supports that statement. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of child care for an infant in New York is $15,394 per year. That…

The Rochester Board of Education approved laying off 109 teachers, as well as other district staff, in a split vote late Thursday night that moved spectators to tears.

"ROC The Future" is looking to provide custom-built libraries for students in grades K-3 at Rochester Schools 19 and 39. The first is Monday, Dec. 9th at Barnes & Noble Pittsford, 4 - 8 pm. Another will follow on Friday, Dec. 20th at Barnes & Noble in Greece, 4 -…

A Rochester non-profit, dedicated to speaking for some of Monroe County's most vulnerable residents, went before the legislature Thursday evening to present a "report card" on how it believes the county's 2020 budget will serve the children who live there.

The chants of “Let teachers teach” and “Education is a right, that’s why we have to fight,” echoed clearly down West Broad Street early Thursday evening. They came from a rally organized by the Rochester Teacher’s Association and were meant to send a message: stop the proposed layoffs of Rochester…

E-News Archive

ROC the Future has released its annual "State of Our Children" report card, which tracks key measures of wellbeing of children and youth in the Rochester area.

Graduation rates are up, parents are more engaged and supportive, third grade English Language Arts proficiency has improved and college financial aid applications are on the rise. But Rochester still lags the rest of the state and nation in many other areas in terms of childhood outcomes.

Roc the Future released its "State of Our Children" report card Thursday morning. Group members say there have been gains and small changes in all areas affecting children.

A growing body of research shows that tax credits targeted to low-income families lead to better lifetime outcomes for poor children. The Children’s Agenda has long been supportive of both state and federal efforts to improve these types of tax credits. Pete Nabozny, Director of Policy, The Children's Agenda, explains…

There are key moments in a child’s development that act as the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health. Stress during this short window of time could lead to negative outcomes including developmental delays and even adult heart disease. What makes this moment in a child’s life so critical?

What is the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline”? Local organizations are planning a town hall event to educate the community about their concerns. It starts with school discipline, suspension levels, and expulsion.

E-News Archive

More than three-quarters of the brain develops in early childhood, before kids even get to preschool or kindergarten. That means that giving children every opportunity to learn, grow and develop from age zero is fundamental. And that’s why the Children’s Agenda Inc. was established some 15 years ago.

This is the second of a series of blog posts regarding the current RSCD budget situation. The Rochester City School District (RCSD) is currently looking for ways to save $30.1 million this year to make up for overspending in the 2018-2019 budget. In The Children’s Agenda’s first blog post we…

The Greater Rochester After-School Alliance (GRASA) on Thursday will partner with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, Healthi Kids, the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association (GRSLA), United Way of Greater Rochester Inc. and the Children’s Agenda to host a “Lights On Afterschool” event.

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that works to ensure every kid and community have access to quality playspaces, has selected ROC the Future to lead a playground project here.