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Media Coverage
How to address children’s social, emotional, and educational needs during the pandemic
From WXXI Connections 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....
Report: Rochester makes ‘incredible progress’ bridging digital divide, but more work to be done
By Kayla Green 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 shows huge racial divides in Rochester, pandemic could make things worse
By: Atyia Collins 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. These problems are not new, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only...
‘Catastrophic’: RCSD suffers most among county districts from looming state funding cuts
By: Justin Murphy 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. Rochester and the state's other large urban...
Children’s Institute to host ROC the Future staff
From RBJ Beginning in April 2021, the Children’s Institute will host ROC the Future’s backbone staff. The Children’s Institute was chosen following a request for proposal process on anchoring ROC the Future’s staff as it moves toward the next stage in its evolution....
City schools are filling the digital divide with MiFi
By: Adria R. Walker Rochester Democrat and Chronicle The Rochester City School District will keep distributing MiFi devices known as hot spots to help students who are struggling to access the internet. It's a continuation of the district’s September 2019...
New RCSD superintendent to start Tuesday
From News 10NBC 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...
Connections: Discussing how the digital divide is affecting local students during the pandemic
From Connections 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...
AFT Launches Landmark Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities
For Release: Contact Andrew Crook o: 202-393-8637 | c: 607-280-6603 acrook@aft.org WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Teachers has released a detailed road map that, in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, charts a path to safely and responsibly reopen school...
Thinking About Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Impacts Through a Science-Informed, Early Childhood Lens
by Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. and David R. Williams, Ph.D., Harvard University The COVID-19 virus is ruthlessly contagious and, at the same time, highly selective. Its capacity to infect is universal, but the consequences of becoming infected are not. While there are...
Latest Updates From ROC the Future
ROC the Future Racial Equity Statement
We live in a world where the well-being of children is shaped by where they live and the color of their skin. The foundation of our country is rooted in racism. Our institutions were built to create a society that perpetuates inequities and marginalizes Black,...
Equity Stories – A Spotlight on Convener Organizations who endorsed Racism as A Public Health Crisis
Every day, we see evidence that the systems of this country are racist and oppressive. And every day, ROC the Future conveners take up the work to build a better future for Rochester's children. In this new series, you will read stories written directly by partners...
Statement on Daniel Prude and Our Continued Support of Rochester’s Youth
ROC the Future, like the rest of our community is deeply troubled by the images we saw of the last moments of Daniel Prude’s life. The systems that should have helped Daniel Prude failed him, and we share our most profound sympathy with his family, friends and with...
Register for Community Talk Back Sessions
ROC the Future invites you to take part in a series of Community Talk Back Sessions to discuss a new four-part public affairs series airing on WXXI, Conversations About Education, that takes a closer look at the challenging issues faced by school districts today. The...
COVID-19 Parent Survey Results
Data Tip Sheets
At ROC the Future, we center data to make evidenced-based decisions. We use data to illuminate obstacles facing children of color and those living in poverty. Our goal is to build community capacity for making data-informed decisions to transform systems to get more...
Monroe County School Re-opening Plans
Updated 2020 Digital Divide Report
Doctors Are Open
Help Spread the Word: Doctors Are Open - COVID Preventive Health for Children Your child is counting on you and you can count on their doctor! Make sure your child is ready to learn by getting them to the doctor for well-child visits, immunizations, and developmental...
Statement on Hiring of Dr. Lesli Myers-Small as RCSD Superintendent
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Josh Jensen 585-770-4268 jjensen@tippingpointcomm.com NEWS BRIEF ROC the Future would like to congratulate Dr. Lesli Myers-Small on officially being named as Superintendent for the Rochester City School District. As the first woman...
