Action for Education Equity makes first donation to Rochester City School District
Action for Education Equity donated $3,000 to RCSD for the purchase of Chromebook bags to support students entering hybrid learning.
Rochester, NY – February 1, 2021
After only officially launching fundraising in December 2020, Action for Education Equity (AEE) is thrilled to announce its first donation to the Rochester City School District (RCSD). Because of the generosity of the Rochester community, AEE was able to provide RCSD with $3,000 towards the cost of Chromebook bags for grade 6 students. The bags will allow students to transport their computers to and from school safely when in person learning resumes in February.
AEE has a unique model of fundraising that gives RCSD discretion over spending decisions. Money raised goes to the District’s most urgent needs that support student success. This is the first donation as we work on a campaign for online giving and a series of virtual events towards our $86 million fundraising target.
To some, the idea of raising $86 Million would be overwhelming, but at AEE we recognize there are 28,000 students who desperately need equipment and services every day. As a result, AEE has launched our Fund With $5 campaign: if everyone in NY State donated $5, RCSD would be fully funded. The campaign focuses on the fact that when the Greater Rochester community comes together (and NY State as a whole) we have the wealth to support the future of our students.
AEE also supports long-term solutions to funding inequity including the current Invest In Our New York (www.investinourny.org) legislative campaign. The campaign advocates for a fair tax system that increases revenue and funds the Foundation Aid owed to RCSD and other critical services for citizens of NY State.
Rochester has the most economically segregated school district border in the country between RCSD and Penfield. AEE provides easy to understand resources to help the community understand funding inequity and the root causes of RCSD’s challenges on our website www.actionforeducationequity.org. The group is working on several initiatives to engage the community including a podcast series due to launch soon that focuses on understanding the challenges the district faces titled ‘What if we’re wrong?’. The podcast will challenge common misconceptions about the RCSD and give a voice to students and parents to help listeners understand the reality for families in the district.
About Action for Education Equity
Action for Education Equity’s mission is to collect the urgent funds needed to provide basic services to RCSD students, and to advocate 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/