Warren may have a secret weapon beyond the mayors bully pulpit. Shes a first-time mother with a 4-year-old daughter. Shes wading through the same systems that other city parents with school-age children are trying to navigate. And even though Warrens a highly educated and successful young woman, she comes from humble beginnings and knows firsthand the challenges that working poor parents often experience. She just might be able to engage those parents in ways that past mayors have not. .... Among the most critical in the councils State of Early Learning report is a concern that toddlers are not receiving the early attention that they need. And much of that is the result of a muddled funding formula that limits access to high quality day care, Warren says. Ive already spoken with County Executive Maggie Brooks about the child care subsidy formula, Warren says. And I will join her in an advocacy to change the formula so more families can be served. Many parents are caught in what Warren calls an obsolete institutional barrier. You want me to work, but if Im working poor I need day care for my child, she says. If I work, I make too much money and the child care subsidy gets taken away. Parents shouldnt be in a situation where they have to choose between working and staying home, Warren says, because the best way to break the cycle of poverty is for parents to work and their children to be in a robust educational environment. The report also lists several concerns about universal prekindergarten enrollment in the city. The report suggests that enrollment could be higher if the process were easier. But more importantly, even though the city school districts universal prekindergarten program is among the districts most highly regarded initiatives, many parents are skeptical of it, according to the ELC report. Warren says that some parents question the efficacy of the program given that so many third graders are not reading at grade level. .... Though Warren hasnt been specific about how much 3 to 3 will cost, she insists that money isnt a problem. And she says that she will not revive a push for mayoral control of the city school district, or try to reduce the $119 million that the city gives the district annually. As you look at what I propose, its not about money, Warren says. Its really about aligning resources. She says shes not going to arbitrarily kill existing programs to fund 3 to 3. Its now what you take from; its how you better utilize what you have, she says. I think what weve become accustomed to is the survival of a program becomes more important than the mission. rochestercitynewspaper/rochester/lovely-warren-rochesters-mother-mayor/Content?oid=2438077
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 02:01:18 +0000
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