Hispanic students in the Rochester City School District missed an average of 38.2 days of school during the 2024-25 school year, more than the rate…

A survey of Rochester high school students found the top reasons for chronic absenteeism were illness, family emergencies and transportation issues. The report also highlighted…

September 2026 E-Newsletter Looking at Chronic Absenteeism in Monroe County The Children’s Agenda has just released a new report: Beyond Attendance Awareness: Chronic Absenteeism in…

Now comes a new report from The Children’s Agenda in Rochester about chronic absenteeism. The report explores why students themselves say they are not attending…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

Summer 2026 E-Newsletter   Celebrating another year of parent-led advocacy What a night to remember! We gathered at the beautiful Memorial Art Gallery for our…

When most people think about school suspensions, they think about discipline. They think a student broke a rule and received a consequence. What many people do not…

June 2, 2026 E-Newsletter Significant Wins, Others Left Behind: Our Statement on the NYS 2026-27 Enacted Budget The Children’s Agenda is grateful for the groundbreaking…

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…

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…

Skepticism and doubt remain after the Rochester city school board passed — by a margin of one vote — a $1.16 billion budget that many…

April 2026 E-Newsletter Rochester City School District’s Budget Must Support Students’ Mental Health As longtime advocates for improving educational outcomes for Rochester students, The Children’s…

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.…

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…

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…

In partnership with the Kids Can't Wait campaign, Regents Adrian Hale and Wade Norwood wrote an op-ed in the Times Union highlighting the importance of…

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…

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…

NEW YORK — New York City lawmakers and advocates are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to boost funding for child care vouchers to shrink a…

Spring 2026 E-Newsletter State Budget Watch State policymakers have proposed transformative investments in children and families this year, and we have high hopes that the…

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…

February 2026 It’s Time for Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) The research is clear: Attending Pre-Kindergarten leads to short- and long-term improvements in children’s academic and behavioral…

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…

January 2026 With the Governor’s budget book in hand and the Legislature in session, our team is focused on building support for historic progress this…

Our Response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Address In her 2026 State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed bold…

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…

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…

Winter 2025 E-Newsletter Our 2026 State Policy Priorities Our key priority areas for 2026 are: • Child Care • Family Economic Security • Developmental Services…

Voters across New York — both Democrats and Republicans — want the state to invest more in affordable child care, a new poll found. It’s…

November 2025 E-Newsletter November was National Family Engagement Month, and we are so grateful for our Very Invested Parents (VIPs) and their unwavering dedication to…

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…

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

Budgets ARE moral documents. As much progress as we’ve made at the state level, with New York now leading the country in universal school meals,…

Budgets ARE moral documents. As much progress as we’ve made at the state level, with New York now leading the country in universal school meals,…

Children who demonstrate disruptive behaviors, such as defiance, aggression, or frequent emotional outbursts, are frequently characterized as inherently difficult or oppositional. However, a substantial body…

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…

Budgets ARE moral documents. As much progress as we’ve made at the state level, with New York now leading the country in universal school meals,…

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

Last night, we celebrated our VIP parent leaders at our annual Parent Appreciation Dinner. Parents and their willingness to show up and speak up for…

The Children's Agenda was honored to receive the Center for Teen Empowerment's Youth-Adult Partnership Award at their annual luncheon on May 7th. Members of our…

Eyes on State and Local Government: Since the beginning of March, advocates like you have sent 1,988 emails to State leaders to advocate for a…

"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…

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…

Read testimony from TCA's Director of Community Impact Eamonn Scanlon on the mental health, school climate, and transportation investments we and our Very Invested Parent…