REMARKS
Council Member Rita C. Joseph's opening remarks on Summer Rising program and related legislation
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3 min
Council Member Rita C. Joseph delivers opening remarks for an oversight hearing on the Summer Rising program, introducing the key issues to be discussed and the legislation to be considered. She highlights both positive aspects and challenges of the program, including transportation issues and support for students with disabilities.
- Introduces three pieces of legislation to be discussed: Intro 700, Intro 729, and Intro 794
- Shares personal experience of her son's positive participation in Summer Rising
- Identifies logistical concerns, including transportation limitations and inadequate support for students with disabilities
Rita C. Joseph
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Thank you.
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Good morning, and welcome everyone to our oversight hearing on summarizing.
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Rita Joseph, Chair of the Education Committee.
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And today, we are joined with Children And Youth Committee and Chair Stevens.
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Thank you to everyone who has signed up to testify.
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We're we're very much looking forward to hearing your testimony.
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At today's hearing, we will also hear testimony on the following legislation intro number 700 sponsored by public advocate, Jumani Williams, and introduction number 727794, both sponsored by council member out the ST Benz.
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We will hear more about this legislation shortly.
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New York City launched summarizing in 2021 in an effort to combat the challenges students faced during the COVID 19 pandemic.
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Since then, summarizing has provided students Kindergarten threw 8th grade with essential academic social and enrichment support during the summer months.
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My own son attended summer rising this past summer, and when he got home, he could not stop talking about how much he enjoyed going on field trips.
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While I recognize the program's potential, unfortunately, due to logistical concerns, not every student was able to fully benefit from the programming like my son.
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One of these logistical concerns is the gap between school bus transportation schedule and the program's end time.
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Although CBS led enrichment programming ended at 6 PM Monday through Thursday, school buses ran until 3 PM limiting access to full program for many students.
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A system where parents must decide to either cut their child's participation short or be burdened with a range in alternative transportation is impractical and diminishes the value of summarizing.
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There's also concern about the lack of consistent support for students with disabilities.
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Too often students require a path professional go without one, leaving some of the most vulnerable students without the resources they need to succeed.
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Though CBOs delivering enrichment programming strive to support these students as best as they can, inadequate training for DOE limits their ability to meet students' needs fully.
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Today's hearing will provide the opportunity to examine these issues in-depth and push for necessary improvements ensuring that future summarizing initiatives offer high quality, inclusive, and accessible programming that meets the needs of all of our students and their families.
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Finally, we will hear testimony and introduction 700 a local law in relation to developing a college admission counseling program, introduction 729, a local law in relation to establishing mental health support for for 2 after school programs administered by the Department of Youth And Community Development.
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And introduction 794, local law in relations to composition of youth board.
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Thank you to the members of the Education Committee who has joined us today.
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I would like to thank committee staff Nadia Jean for Suwaco Uvera.
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Andrew Lolis and Grace Amato for their work on today's hearing, and my chief of staff counsel may I mean, Giovanni Pequan.
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I also want to acknowledge my other colleagues who are present.
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My council member Linda Lee.
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And now I'll turn it over to my cochair, council member Stevens for her opening statement.
