The City of Rochester’s Proposed Budget for 2021-22 directs expenditures to support our community’s recovery from 16 months of health, economic, and social crises. While pandemic restrictions are slowly being lifted and many Rochester residents are returning to some sense of normalcy, the healing from losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has just begun. Children are the center of our concern.
The City of Rochester’s Proposed Budget for 2021-22 directs expenditures to support our community’s recovery from 16 months of health, economic, and social crises. While pandemic restrictions are slowly being lifted and many Rochester residents are returning to some sense of normalcy, the healing from losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has just begun. Children are the center of our concern.
The recommendations in this report were developed in partnership with students, parents, and community agencies such as the Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC), Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), Bilingual Education Council (BEC), Teens With Attitude, Teen Empowerment, Citizen Action of NY, Alliance for Quality Education, Roc/ACTS, the Community Task Force on School Climate, IBERO American Action League, and many more, as well as those who attended our numerous budget teach-ins and community forums.
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a $1.9 billion stimulus plan designed to accelerate our nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains a number of measures to provide direct relief to families, e.g. $1,400 stimulus checks to households, extended unemployment benefits and emergency housing assistance, and $5 billion for federal food aid. The pandemic recovery is addressed with $160 billion for vaccine distribution, supplies, emergency response, testing and the public health workforce.
A significant portion of ARPA funds are directed to children and families through provisions that include changes to federal tax credits and increased resources for child care, PreK-12 education, and closing the digital divide.
The Children’s Agenda offers this review of the proposed 2021 County budget and its impact on children and youth. It is a contribution to the local dialogue about how to best use limited resources to create a thriving community for families. Children are the poorest and most diverse segment of Monroe County’s population. This report was developed amid a sharp uptick in COVID-19 infections locally, ten months into a pandemic which has resulted in greater needs among Monroe County children and restricted access to services to address them. The United Hospital Fund estimates that 10,000 more Monroe County children will be pushed into poverty as a result of the pandemic. And all of our children’s health, learning, social interactions, and safety are markedly threatened.
The Children’s Agenda offers this review of the proposed 2021 County budget and its impact on children and youth. It is a contribution to the local dialogue about how to best use limited resources to create a thriving community for families. Children are the poorest and most diverse segment of Monroe County’s population. This report was developed amid a sharp uptick in COVID-19 infections locally, ten months into a pandemic which has resulted in greater needs among Monroe County children and restricted access to services to address them. The United Hospital Fund estimates that 10,000 more Monroe County children will be pushed into poverty as a result of the pandemic. And all of our children’s health, learning, social interactions, and safety are markedly threatened.
ROC the Future began as a StriveTogether community (one of 70 nationwide), using collective impact to address very complex issues impeding positive outcomes for children.
A review was done of research and evaluations on community schools throughout the country plus available data on community schools in Rochester. Synthesis of the information can inform development of a community school system. There are varying principles community schools are based on, including collaboration, equity, and a mixed model. Community schools can impact students, teachers, families, communities, and systems. In Rochester the demographics of community schools are, overall, proportionate to the district, but notable variability exists. Current academic outcomes and available staff also vary greatly. Needs assessments indicate priorities for strengthening relationships, supporting social-emotional learning and restorative practices, increasing academic support, meeting basic needs, and engaging families
The Rochester City School District (RCSD) is facing unprecedented mid-year reductions in education aid from New York State. These cuts surpass the losses faced by any other school district in Monroe County, and are among the highest of any school district in 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 aid to local school districts, and bolsters institutional racism in our community.
The Children’s Agenda advocates for effective policies and drives evidenced-based solutions for the health, education and success of children. We are especially committed to children who are vulnerable because of poverty, racism, health inequities and trauma.
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