ROCHESTER — ROC the Future recently released its fourth-annual report on the well-being of children and youths living in the city.
The "State of Our Children" conference held Oct. 25 included information on key indicators of academic achievement. The 2016 report card showed improvements in several indicators including a 1.6 percent increase in third-grade reading, a drop in truancies and a 17 percent increase in applications for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, according to ROC the Future officials.
ROC the Future is an alliance of more than 50 leading Rochester-area institutions and community partners that works with the Rochester City School District to promote alignment of strategies, resources and accountability for improving the academic achievement of Rochester’s children.
Prekindergarten attendance is one area that continues to pose a challenge, with 55.5 percent of students chronically absent, as is afterschool activity, which is only available to 35 percent of area youths, according to the report.
The alliance has worked on the prekindergarten issue through a summer pilot program to offer parent orientations, and will soon roll out a new program using video and mobile technologies to guide parents in using an early education online resource with their children, according to information from ROC the Future officials.
To read the full report, visit www.actrochester.org/roc-the-future.
