Find out what voters in New York think about issues and policy solutions related to child care, family economic security, developmental services, and Pre-K to 12 education.
Find out what our key legislative priorities are in child care, family economic security, developmental services, and education for children throughout New York.
The 2025-26 New York State budget contains some milestone wins for children and families – and some big misses. We are grateful that Governor Hochul and the State Legislature listened to the calls of advocates and took bold actions to boost economic security and health for New Yorkers. These gains could be threatened unless additional investments are made in areas missed this session.
Find out what our key legislative priorities are in child care, child poverty, developmental services, education, and health for children throughout New York.
Disaggregated data are critical to ensuring all of New York’s children and families have equitable access to the services they need to thrive. By understanding who is and who is not being served by the state’s early childhood systems, we can better identify and address systemic inequities.
Some disaggregated data are available on children receiving Early Intervention services in the state, both through public reports and Freedom of Information Law requests, but county-level and intersectional (e.g., race and gender) data remain unavailable. This information is critical to ensure the State is providing equitable access to timely Early Intervention services, especially for children of color, low-income children, and those in rural or large urban areas.
This fact sheet is part of a collection that explores the state of data disaggregation in four of New York’s key early childhood systems: Early Intervention, Child Care, Pre-Kindergarten & Preschool Special Education, and Behavioral Health. Please click here to view the full set, including recommendations for state and local leaders, as well as advocates, on ways to improve the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data across systems.
Disaggregated data are critical to ensuring all of New York’s children and families have equitable access to the services they need to thrive. By understanding who is and who is not being served by the state’s early childhood systems, we can better identify and address systemic inequities.
This collection of fact sheets explores the state of data disaggregation in four of New York’s key early childhood systems: Early Intervention, Child Care, Pre-Kindergarten & Preschool Special Education, and Behavioral Health. We also provide recommendations for state and local leaders, as well as advocates, on ways to improve the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data across systems.
The project was a collaboration between three of New York’s leading children’s advocacy organizations: The Children’s Agenda, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, and the Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy. Funding was provided by The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights Education Fund.
Disaggregated data are critical to ensuring all of New York’s children and families have equitable access to the services they need to thrive. By understanding who is and who is not being served by the state’s early childhood systems, we can better identify and address systemic inequities.
Enrollment data are published yearly for Pre-Kindergarten students around the state by gender, race/ethnicity, economically disadvantaged status, English Language Learner status, and disability status. While the count of Pre-K students with disabilities is available statewide, there is no additional disaggregation or information available on how those children are being served. This information is critical to ensuring students are receiving the supports they are entitled to by law.
This fact sheet is part of a collection that explores the state of data disaggregation in four of New York’s key early childhood systems: Early Intervention, Child Care, Pre-Kindergarten & Preschool Special Education, and Behavioral Health. Please click here to view the full set, including recommendations for state and local leaders, as well as advocates, on ways to improve the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data across systems.
Disaggregated data are critical to ensuring all of New York’s children and families have equitable access to the services they need to thrive. By understanding who is and who is not being served by the state’s early childhood systems, we can better identify and address systemic inequities.
There is little publicly available data regarding New York’s child care system, and no disaggregated data at all on the child care workforce or the children and families statewide who benefit from their services. While some state-level data exist on families receiving subsidized care, this is not enough to tell the story of how workers and families are experiencing the system and if their needs are truly being met.
This fact sheet is part of a collection that explores the state of data disaggregation in four of New York’s key early childhood systems: Early Intervention, Child Care, Pre-Kindergarten & Preschool Special Education, and Behavioral Health. Please click here to view the full set, including recommendations for state and local leaders, as well as advocates, on ways to improve the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data across systems.
Disaggregated data are critical to ensuring all of New York’s children and families have equitable access to the services they need to thrive. By understanding who is and who is not being served by the state’s early childhood systems, we can better identify and address systemic inequities.
New York’s children’s behavioral health system is complex, with minimal disaggregation of access and utilization data. While a lot of data are available at a regional- or county-level, few indicators are disaggregated further by important demographic categories like race, gender, or age group. These data limitations inhibit the State and community-based providers from identifying and meeting the unmet needs of children in the state, and prevent parents, advocates, and community stakeholders from being fully informed about the services they need in their communities.
This fact sheet is part of a collection that explores the state of data disaggregation in four of New York’s key early childhood systems: Early Intervention, Child Care, Pre-Kindergarten & Preschool Special Education, and Behavioral Health. Please click here to view the full set, including recommendations for state and local leaders, as well as advocates, on ways to improve the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data across systems.
Families in Rochester and Monroe County are experiencing widespread financial hardship and family financial stress that impacts children.
Housing instability and child poverty are problems we can fix, if we can summon the political will to do so. New York State should identify housing stability as a top priority so every child has a consistent place to call home.
Maternal mortality is far too high in New York and disproportionately affects Black women, regardless of their prenatal care, income and education levels. Preventive and supportive care must be systematically available and easily accessible to lower maternal mortality. Half of pregnancies in New York are covered by Medicaid, making Medicaid a key lever decreasing the number of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth.
The research shows that Black women are 5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women, and Black infants are 2 times more likely to die than White infants.
New York State has drafted a proposal that will be submitted to the US Department of Health and Human Services, requesting flexibility in how it uses Medicaid funds. Known as a “Medicaid waiver,” the proposal includes a request for $13.52 billion to be used over five years. The intent is to design innovative ways of using Medicaid funds that will promote health equity and address health disparities. Despite the fact this waiver is focused on equity, the investments in the current proposal are not aligned with the needs of the poorest and most diverse population of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid: 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.
