New Community Organization Asking Greater Rochester to Come Together for RCSD Students
Action for Education Equity Launches Campaign on GivingTuesday with Goal of Raising $86 Million
Rochester, NY – November 28, 2020
Formed earlier this year, Action for Education Equity (AEE) has officially launched fundraising and will formally launch its fundraising campaign with GivingTuesday this December 1st.
Action for Education Equity is a group of community volunteers dedicated to bringing equitable funding to Rochester City School District (RCSD), paving the way for a high-quality education for the youth of Rochester. All funds raised will go directly to the school district where they are most needed, thereby decreasing disparities between city and suburban students.
Between COVID-19, difficult budget numbers, a new superintendent and state monitor reports, there has been no shortage of news surrounding RCSD, however, the focus is rarely on the students. “RCSD students aren’t statistics, they are real children with dreams and ambitions, and they need our help to achieve them. It is the least we can do.” states Laura Smith, one of AEE’s founders.
Now is the time to center the conversation on them and for the greater Rochester community to come together in support. AEE has partnered with Rochester Education Foundation, The Children’s Agenda and the RCSD and has started raising the critical funds needed to support student learning this year. The campaign will formally launch on December 1, and in addition to giving critical funds, AEE will be advocating for the state to provide the Foundation Aid owed to RCSD and providing easy to understand resources to help the community understand funding inequity, the root cause of the district’s struggles.
Stuart Hencke, Executive Director of Rochester Education Foundation, spoke about the project:
“For the last fifteen years, Rochester Education Foundation has been dedicated to working with individuals, businesses, and organizations to ensure that every child has the opportunity for a great education. REF and Action for Education Equity began partnering together in Summer 2020 with a shared goal of providing equitable educational opportunities for city students. We are excited to work with the Action team and an incredible, engaged group of community members towards this goal.”
The group is working on a number of initiatives to engage the community including a podcast series due to launch soon focused on understanding the challenges the district faces entitled ‘What if we’re wrong’. It will challenge common perceptions about the RCSD and give a voice to the students and parents to help understand the reality for families in the district.
About Action for Education Equity
Action for Education Equity is collecting urgent funds needed to provide basic services to RCSD students, and is advocating for NY State to decrease the disparities between city and suburban students by fulfilling its financial obligations.
Action for Education Equity is a Rochester Education Foundation partner, with REF serving as the fiscal agent.
The Children’s Agenda is AEE’s advocacy partner, providing data and knowledge to drive AEE’s advocacy around the inequities in school funding.
Press Contact
Name: Laura Smith
Email: action@rochestereducation.org
Website: www.actionforeducationequity.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActionforEducationEquity/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/action_for_education_equity/